Protective Effects of Sweet Corn Extract Against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial (ARPE-19) Cells

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration or AMD is an eye disease from the macular area of retina, which is a cause of impaired vision and irreversible blindness in the elderly population. Risk factor of AMD is oxidative stress. Sweet corn contains many phytochemicals that are beneficial to health, which is an important source of substances in carotenoid group. Especially lutein and zeaxanthin, which have antioxidant properties. Objective of this study was to evaluate the effect and mechanism of boiled sweet corn extract and lutein in the human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cell induced cell death from oxidative stress with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Results showed that the effect and mechanism of boiled sweet corn extract on ARPE-19 cell induced cell damage from oxidative stress with H₂O₂. ARPE-19 cells were treated with serum free medium contained sweet corn extract (SCE) at concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 µg/mL for 24 h. Then, cells were induced with 400 µM of H₂O₂ for 60 min. The results showed that SCE at concentrations of 10 and 100 µg/mL was a significant (p < 0.05) effective in preventing of ARPE-19 cells induced oxidative stress by reducing ROS, increasing levels of intracellular antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH) and modulation of protein in apoptosis pathway (Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-9 and -3) in a dose dependent manner. However, this study is as only in vitro study. Thus, health benefits of sweet corn especially, eye health, vision and prevention of AMD of sweet corn should be further investigated in animal and human.