Effect of a combination of carnosine and aspirin eye drops on streptozotocin -- induced diabetic cataract in rats.

Shi Q, Yan H, Li MY, Harding JJ

Molecular vision21 Oct 2009Cited by 15 (Europe PMC)

PMID19898641PMCIDPMC2773744PepBankPUB-19898641

Summary

PurposeTo investigate the effect of a combination of carnosine and aspirin eye drops on the progression of diabetic cataract formation induced by streptozotocin (STZ).MethodsRats were made diabetic with STZ. Animals in the treated groups received carnosine, aspirin, or a combination of carnosine and aspirin as drops to the eyes. Cataract progression was monitored by slit lamp microscope and classified into four stages. At the end of 8 weeks, the animals were killed and biochemical changes were determined. Blood and urine glucose levels, body weights, food, and intake were also determined.ResultsAbout 84.4% of the rats responded to the STZ injection. There were statistically significant differences in the stage of cataract of lenses between the untreated and the treated diabetic animals and between the combination and the aspirin group at the 7th and 8th week. There was a significant decrease in the water-soluble protein in the diabetic groups compared with the control group. The three treatments improved the water-soluble protein levels, and the combination treatment had the greatest effect. The levels of thiol were remarkably decreased in the lenses of diabetic rats, except the combination group. The specific activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was increased and the activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT) were decreased in all the diabetic groups.ConclusionsThe results indicated that carnosine, aspirin, and a combination eye drops are effective against the onset and development of diabetic cataract in rats. Most important, the effect of combination eye drops is better than aspirin only.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study8

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic rats, cataract stages differed significantly between carnosine-treated and untreated animals at the 7th and 8th week.
In plain wordsIn diabetic rats, cataract stages differed between carnosine treatment and no treatment at the 7th and 8th week.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
Direction not reportedCataract stage
Study
ratn: not reported in source
streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract
Comparator
untreated diabetic animals
Outcome group
Vision and retina · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · eye dropsAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
There were statistically significant differences in the stage of cataract of lenses between the untreated and the treated diabetic animals and between the combination and the aspirin group at the 7th and 8th week.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats were made diabetic with STZ. Animals in the treated groups received carnosine, aspirin, or a combination of carnosine and aspirin as drops to the eyes.
Summary · context
At the end of 8 weeks, the animals were killed and biochemical changes were determined.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-1989864101
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic rats, carnosine plus aspirin differed significantly from aspirin in cataract stage at the 7th and 8th week.
In plain wordsIn diabetic rats, cataract stages differed between carnosine plus aspirin and aspirin at the 7th and 8th week.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
Direction not reportedCataract stage with combination versus aspirin
Study
ratn: not reported in source
streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract
Comparator
aspirin alone
Outcome group
Vision and retina · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · eye dropsAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
There were statistically significant differences in the stage of cataract of lenses between the untreated and the treated diabetic animals and between the combination and the aspirin group at the 7th and 8th week.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats were made diabetic with STZ. Animals in the treated groups received carnosine, aspirin, or a combination of carnosine and aspirin as drops to the eyes.
Summary · context
At the end of 8 weeks, the animals were killed and biochemical changes were determined.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-1989864103
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic rats, carnosine improved lens water-soluble protein levels.
In plain wordsIn diabetic rats, carnosine improved lens water-soluble protein levels compared with no treatment.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseWater-soluble protein
Study
ratn: not reported in source
streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract
Comparator
untreated diabetic group
Outcome group
Vision and retina · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · eye dropsAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
The three treatments improved the water-soluble protein levels, and the combination treatment had the greatest effect.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
There was a significant decrease in the water-soluble protein in the diabetic groups compared with the control group.
Summary · context
Rats were made diabetic with STZ. Animals in the treated groups received carnosine, aspirin, or a combination of carnosine and aspirin as drops to the eyes.
Summary · context
At the end of 8 weeks, the animals were killed and biochemical changes were determined.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-1989864104
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic rats, carnosine plus aspirin had a greater effect on lens water-soluble protein levels than aspirin alone.
In plain wordsIn diabetic rats, carnosine plus aspirin improved lens water-soluble protein levels more than aspirin alone.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseWater-soluble protein with combination versus aspirin
Study
ratn: not reported in source
streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract
Comparator
aspirin alone
Outcome group
Vision and retina · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated · eye dropsAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
The three treatments improved the water-soluble protein levels, and the combination treatment had the greatest effect.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats were made diabetic with STZ. Animals in the treated groups received carnosine, aspirin, or a combination of carnosine and aspirin as drops to the eyes.
Summary · context
At the end of 8 weeks, the animals were killed and biochemical changes were determined.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-1989864106

Studies that did not test the peptide alone4

In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking L-carnosine.

05AnimalNot a test of L-carnosine aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic rats, carnosine plus aspirin differed significantly from no treatment in cataract stage at the 7th and 8th week.
In plain wordsIn diabetic rats, cataract stages differed between carnosine plus aspirin and no treatment at the 7th and 8th week.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
Direction not reportedCataract stage with combination versus untreated
Study
ratn: not reported in source
streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract
Comparator
untreated diabetic animals
Outcome group
Vision and retina · Eye
Source sentences
Summary
There were statistically significant differences in the stage of cataract of lenses between the untreated and the treated diabetic animals and between the combination and the aspirin group at the 7th and 8th week.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats were made diabetic with STZ. Animals in the treated groups received carnosine, aspirin, or a combination of carnosine and aspirin as drops to the eyes.
Summary · context
At the end of 8 weeks, the animals were killed and biochemical changes were determined.
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-1989864102
06AnimalNot a test of L-carnosine aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic rats, carnosine plus aspirin improved lens water-soluble protein levels.
In plain wordsIn diabetic rats, carnosine plus aspirin improved lens water-soluble protein levels compared with no treatment.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseWater-soluble protein with combination
Study
ratn: not reported in source
streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract
Comparator
untreated diabetic group
Outcome group
Vision and retina · Eye
Source sentences
Summary
The three treatments improved the water-soluble protein levels, and the combination treatment had the greatest effect.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
There was a significant decrease in the water-soluble protein in the diabetic groups compared with the control group.
Summary · context
Rats were made diabetic with STZ. Animals in the treated groups received carnosine, aspirin, or a combination of carnosine and aspirin as drops to the eyes.
Summary · context
At the end of 8 weeks, the animals were killed and biochemical changes were determined.
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-1989864105
07AnimalNot a test of L-carnosine aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic rats, carnosine plus aspirin had a greater effect on lens water-soluble protein levels than carnosine alone.
In plain wordsIn diabetic rats, carnosine plus aspirin improved lens water-soluble protein levels more than carnosine alone.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseWater-soluble protein with combination versus carnosine
Study
ratn: not reported in source
streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract
Comparator
carnosine alone
Outcome group
Vision and retina · Eye
Source sentences
Summary
The three treatments improved the water-soluble protein levels, and the combination treatment had the greatest effect.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats were made diabetic with STZ. Animals in the treated groups received carnosine, aspirin, or a combination of carnosine and aspirin as drops to the eyes.
Summary · context
At the end of 8 weeks, the animals were killed and biochemical changes were determined.
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-1989864107
08AnimalNot a test of L-carnosine aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In diabetic rats, the carnosine and aspirin group was the exception to the reported decrease in lens thiols.
In plain wordsIn diabetic rats, the carnosine and aspirin group was the exception to the reported decrease in lens thiols.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
Direction not reportedLens thiols with combination
Study
ratn: not reported in source
streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract
Outcome group
Vision and retina · Eye
Source sentences
Summary
The levels of thiol were remarkably decreased in the lenses of diabetic rats, except the combination group.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats were made diabetic with STZ. Animals in the treated groups received carnosine, aspirin, or a combination of carnosine and aspirin as drops to the eyes.
Summary · context
At the end of 8 weeks, the animals were killed and biochemical changes were determined.
In this study, L-carnosine was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking L-carnosine.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-1989864108

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
27 Oct 2026, 18:20 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
27 Oct 2026, 16:32 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.