2. Academic Validation
  3. Therapeutic Effect of Garcinia cambogia Extract and Hydroxycitric Acid Inhibiting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor in a Murine Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Therapeutic Effect of Garcinia cambogia Extract and Hydroxycitric Acid Inhibiting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor in a Murine Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

  • Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Oct 11;20(20):5049. doi: 10.3390/ijms20205049.
Mari Ibuki 1 2,  Chiho Shoda 3 4,  Yukihiro Miwa 5 6,  Ayako Ishida 7,  Kazuo Tsubota 8,  Toshihide Kurihara 9 10
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. shirayuki0727@yahoo.co.jp.
  • 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. shirayuki0727@yahoo.co.jp.
  • 3 Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. syouda.chiho@nihon-u.ac.jp.
  • 4 Department of Ophthalmology, Nihon University, Tokyo 101-8309, Japan. syouda.chiho@nihon-u.ac.jp.
  • 5 Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. yukihiro226@gmail.com.
  • 6 Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. yukihiro226@gmail.com.
  • 7 Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. ayakoishida9696@keio.jp.
  • 8 Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. tsubota@z3.keio.jp.
  • 9 Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. kurihara@z8.keio.jp.
  • 10 Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. kurihara@z8.keio.jp.
PMID: 31614647 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205049
Abstract

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness and can be classified into two types called atrophic AMD (dry AMD) and neovascular AMD (wet AMD). Dry AMD is characterized by cellular degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium, choriocapillaris, and photoreceptors. Wet AMD is characterized by the invasion of abnormal vessels from the choroid. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy has a potent therapeutic effect against the disease, there is a possibility of chorio-retinal atrophy and adverse systemic events due to long-term robust VEGF antagonism. We focused on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) regulation of VEGF transcription, and report the suppressive effects of HIF inhibition against ocular phenotypes in animal models. Many of the known HIF inhibitors are categorized as anti-cancer drugs, and their systemic side effects are cause for concern in clinical use. In this study, we explored food ingredients that have HIF inhibitory effects and verified their effects in an animal model of AMD.

Methods: Food ingredients were screened using a luciferase assay. C57BL6/J mice were administered the Garcinia cambogia extract (Garcinia extract) and hydroxycitric acid (HCA). Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was induced by laser irradiation.

Results: Garcinia extract and HCA showed inhibitory effects on HIF in the luciferase assay. The laser CNV model mice showed significant reduction of CNV volume by administering Garcinia extract and HCA. Conclusions: Garcinia extract and HCA showed therapeutic effects in a murine AMD model.

Keywords

Garcinia cambogia; age-related macular degeneration; choroid; hydroxycitric acid; hypoxia-inducible factor; laser induced neovascularization; retina.

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