Page 6 - A. Aging

[A. Aging-4]

Protective Effect of Capsicum annuum L. (Paprika) Extract

Fermented by L. plantarum on Sodium Iodate-Induced Acute

Retinal Degeneration in Mice

Ha-Rim Kim¹, Sol Kim¹, Sang-Jun Kim¹, Sang-Wang Lee², Hong-Sig Sin², Seung-Il Jeong¹, Kang-Yeol Yu¹,

Seon-Young Kim¹˙*

¹R&DB Division, Jeonju Agro-Biomaterials Institute, Jeonju 54810, Republic of Korea, ²Chebigen, Chebigen Co. Ltd,

Jeonju 54853, Republic of Korea

The pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) involves oxidative stress and damage of the retinal
pigment epithelium. In this study, we investigated whether treatment of fermented paprika extract (FPE) using

Lactobacillus plantarum could protect retinal degeneration in mice. We developed a retinal damage model in
C57BL/6 mice via intraperitoneal injections using 30 mg/kg NaIO3. Decreases in deformation and thickness were

observed in outer nuclear layer 7 days after NaIO3 administration but were improved with FPE treatment. These
results show that NaIO3 can be varied to permanent deficits in RPE and visual function. FPE treatment protected

the reduction of glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels. Also, we evaluated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-
mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and its underlying mechanisms in RAW 264.7 cells. LPS-induced

nitric oxide and ROS generation was markedly blocked by FPE treatment in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, we found
that FPE regulated LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, NADPH oxidase signaling protein,

and mitogen activated kinase signaling protein expression in RAW 264.7 cells. These findings suggest that FPE can
be a potential candidate for protecting the retinal degenerative diseases.