The Effects of Naringin and Naringenin on Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis in Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of naringin and naringenin on endotoxin- induced uveitis (EIU) in rats. EIU was induced in male Lewis rats by a footpad injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The rats were injected intravenously with 0.4, 4, or 40 microg/kg naringin or naringenin. Each compound was administered three times, simultaneously, 30 min before and after the actual LPS injection. The aqueous humor was collected 24 h later from both eyes, and the number of cells infiltrating into the aqueous humor and the aqueous humor protein concentration were measured. The levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) were determined. Naringin and naringenin suppressed the development of EIU in a dose-dependent fashion. Both treatments with naringin and naringenin produced reductions in PGE2 and NO concentrations in the aqueous humor. In particular, 40 microM/kg of naringin and naringenin suppressed increases in cell count owing to LPS treatment by 31% and 38%, respectively. The possible mechanism for the antiocular inflammatory effect may be the suppression of PGE2 and NO by naringin and naringenin.