Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of four Chinese herbs which pass through liver-channel and improve eyesight, i.e.Semem plantaginis (SP), Semem celosiae (SC), Flos chrysanthemi (FC)and Radix rehmanniae preparata (RRP)on Bcl-2 and Bax, apoptosisrelated genes, in rat lens epithelial cell (LEC)injured by oxidation.METHODS: Eyes of SD rats were divided randomly into 7 groups:control group, hydrogen peroxide group (H₂O₂), pirenoxine sodium group (PS)and four Chinese herbs (SP, SC, FC and RRP)groups.Eyes were extracted and lenses were separated under operating microscope and sterilized condition.Lenses were incubated in CO2 incubator for 24 h with 300 μmol·L ^-1 H₂O₂ and with orwithout four Chinese herbs.The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein of LEC were measured and compared by tearing the LEC anterior capsule via immunohistochemical analysis.RESULTS: Both Bcl-2 and Bax expressed in normal lenses of SD rats, and the expression of Bcl-2 was stronger than Bax.In H₂O₂ group, Bcl-2 expression decreased and Bax expression increased remarkably (P <0.01), and Bcl-2/Bax reduced.In four Chinese herbs groups, there were up-regulation in Bcl-2 expression and down-regulation in Bax expression, and Bcl-2/Bax increased compared with H₂O₂ group (P <0.01). The changes in PS group were similar to four Chinese herbs groups, but much weaker than those in four Chinese herbs groups (P <0.05).CONCLUSION: Four Chinese herbs regulate the expression of apoptosis-related genes,Bcl-2 and Bax,which may be the molecular mechanism of LEC apoptosis inhibition by four Chinese herbs.

Key words: Chinese herbs, Semem plantaginis, Semem celosiae, Flos chrysanthemi, Radix rehmanniae preparata, lens epithelial cell, apoptosis, genes