Abstract: AIM: To study effects of four Chinese herbs i.e.Semem Plantaginis (SP), Semem Celosiae (SC), Flos Chrysanthemi (FC) and Radix Rehmanniae Preparata (RRP), which pass through liver-channel on improving eyesight and protecting oxidative injury of lens and apoptosis of lens epithelial cell (LEC).METHODS: 21 New Zealand rabbits (42 lenses) were divided randomly into 7 groups:control group, Fenton group, Pirinoxine odium (PS) group and four Chinese herbs (SP, SC, FC and RRP) groups.Lens oxidative injury models were induced by Fenton reaction.Lens opacities were observed via surgical microscope.The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total protein (TP), and soluble protein (SP) in all lenses were measured.21 Sprague-Dawley rats (42 lenses) were divided randomly into above 7 groups.Apoptosis of LEC were induced by H₂O₂.The rates of LEC apoptosis in all groups were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated biotin-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and the morphological changes were observed by transmission electron microscope.RESULTS: Lens opacities in groups of four Chinese herbs (SP, SC, FC and RRP) were much lighter than that in Fenton groups.The contents of SOD, GSH, and GSH-Px in lenses of four Chinese herb groups were higher than Fenton groups (P <0.01).The rates of LEC apoptosis in lenses of four Chinese herb groups (16.0 ± 2.8, 30.0 ±2.3, 21.0 ±2.5, 43.1 ±3.5) were significantly lower than that in H₂O₂ (92.0 ±2.55) and PS (56.0 ±9.9) group (P <0.05).The ultrastructure study indicated that the most LEC in H₂O₂ group showed apoptosis and there were in any stages of apoptosis observed by transmission electron microscope.Apoptosis cells in LEC of four Chinese herb groups were much less than that in H₂O₂ group and PS group, and the apoptosis changes of cells were in early or middle stages.CONCLUSION: The four Chinese herbs can obviously increase anti-oxidative ability, protect oxidative damages, alleviate opacities of lenses, and inhibit LEC apoptosis, which are better than that of PS.

Key words: Semem Plantaginis, Semem Closiae, Flos Chrysanthemi, Radix rehmanniae Preparata, oxidative injury, apoptosis, lens, lens epithelial cells