Prevention of selenite induced oxidative stress and cataractogenesis by luteolin isolated from Vitex negundo
Authors: V Gayathri Devi
B N Rooban
Annie Abraham
V Sahasranamam
V Sasikala
Journal: Chemico-Biological Interactions (2012)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: oxidative stress; cataract; luteolin; selenite; antioxidant

Abstract:  Free radical mediated oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cataract and the present study was to determine the efficacy of luteolin in preventing selenite induced oxidative stress and cataractogenesis in vitro. Luteolin is a bioactive flavonoid, isolated and characterized from the leaves of Vitex negundo. Lenses were extracted from Sprague-Dawley strain rats and were organ cultured in DMEM medium. They were divided into three groups with eight lenses in each group as follows: lenses cultured in normal medium (G I), supplemented with 0.1mM sodium selenite (G II) and sodium selenite and 2 μg/ml luteolin (G III). Treatment was from the second to fifth day, while selenite administration was done on the third day. After the experimental period, lenses were taken out and various parameters were studied. The antioxidant potential of luteolin was assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. In the selenite induced group, morphological examination of the lenses showed dense cortical opacification and vacuolization. Biochemical examinations revealed a significant decrease in activities of antioxidant enzymes and enzymes of the glutathione system. Additionally decreased glutathione level and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were observed. Luteolin treatment abated selenite induced oxidative stress and cataractogenesis by maintaining antioxidant status, reducing ROS generation and lipid peroxidation in the lens. These finding demonstrated the anticataractogenic effect of luteolin by virtue of its antioxidant property, which has been reported in this paper for the first time. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Concern about Figure 6. * Red boxes: Panels A (control) and C (selenite-induced + luteolin treated) appear to show the same lens, albeit in mirror image. This image seems to support the conclusion of this paper as stated by the title, while the mirroring suggest this was not the result of an error. ![file] Here are panels A and mirrored-C again, with some contrast enhancement. ![file] , 
 All three panels (or should I say two?) in Figure 6 look remarkably similar to panels in Figure 5 in another paper by the same group, where they represent the wonderful preventive effect of Isorhamnetin-3-glucoside on oxidative stress. Here is a comparison between the two figures, with diagonal stripes indication the variable orientations, and red and cyan boxes the panels that look similar. ![file] , 
 Photographs are taken using the same microscope available in the department and stored in the same computer. Please see that we are working on different aspects but treatment conditions are same. In the case of selenite induced cataract same treatment conditions are followed. Please note that our conclusions are same as our treatments protected the lenses from selenite stress. We are working on other areas also. , 
 #3 It seems you have acknowledged reusing images in multiple papers. How do you explain the use of the same image (flipped horizontally) to represent different treatments within the same paper? ,