OXIDATIVE STRESS, INFLAMMATION, AND CELLULAR PROTECTION IN RETINAL ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY: THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF SAMPILNOROV WURILE

Retinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a condition associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, leading to visual impairment. This study investigates the effect of Sampilnorov wurile, a traditional Mongolian medicine, in mitigating retinal damage through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. The study involved five groups of 8 female Sprague-Dawley rats, with Sampilnorov Wurile administered at doses of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.6 g/kg for 7 days. Retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced using the high intraocular pressure method, where saline was infused into the eye for 60 minutes to create elevated IOP, followed by pressure restoration to confirm the successful model. Retinal tissue samples were collected at 6,12,24, and 48 hours post-reperfusion, and biomarkers such as SOD, MDA, GSH, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, NO, and iNOS were quantified using ELISA. Western blotting was employed to analyze protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and p53 in retinal tissue, with GAPDH as a control. The results showed that Sampilnorov Wurile significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities, with SOD and GSH levels elevated and MDA levels reduced in retinal tissue at various time points post-reperfusion. Inflammatory biomarkers, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8, were significantly reduced in the treatment groups, particularly at higher doses of Sampilnorov Wurile, indicating its anti-inflammatory effect. Additionally, Sampilnorov Wurile modulated apoptotic proteins, enhancing Bcl-2 expression and reducing Bax and p53 levels, thus demonstrating a protective effect against retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. This study demonstrates that Sampilnorov Wurile effectively reduces retinal cell damage in retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS), alleviating inflammation, and modulating apoptotic pathways, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes.