Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of elemene(Ele) on intracellular concentrations of calcium([Ca²⁺]_i), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in lens epithelial cell (LEC) of proliferation induced by recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF), and the mechanism of signal transduction of inhibiting proliferation. METHODS: Proliferations of LEC were induced by rhEGF;[Ca²⁺]_i concentrations of LEC were determined by spectrofluoremeter;The intracellular concentrations of cAMP and cGMP were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: (1) [Ca²⁺]_i of LEC in the Ele group increased obviously compared with the proliferation group(P<0.01);(2) Concentrations of cAMP of LEC in the proliferation group decreased compared with the control group.Concentrations of cGMP of LEC in the proliferation group increased compared with the control group (P<0.01);(3) Concentrations of cAMP of LEC in the Ele group increased significantly compared with the proliferation group.Concentrations of cGMP of LEC in the Ele group decreased compared with the proliferation group(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Elemene inhibits proliferation of LEC by means of signal transduction of [Ca²⁺]_i, cAMP, cGMP and interaction of multiple signal transduction, which may be the cellular and molecular mechanism of Ele inhibiting/LEC proliferation and preventing after cataract.

Key words: elemene, lens epithelial cell, cataract, proliferation, epidermal growth factor, Ca²⁺, cyclic adenosinemonophosphate, cyclic guanosine monophosphate