ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the damage effect of borneol on rabbit corneal epithelial cells. Methods After the treatment with borneol at 100, 200, 400 μg·mL-1 respectively, the viability of rabbit corneal epithelial cells was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium ( MTT) assay, cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry with Annexin V- fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide ( FITC/PI) staining, and Caspase-3 mRNA expression was detected with real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) . Results Borneol at the concentrations of 100, 200, 400 μg·mL-1 inhibited the activity of rabbit corneal epithelial cells. Compared with the normal control group, borneol increased the rate of apoptosis, and enhanced the Caspase-3 mRNA expression in rabbit corneal epithelial cells ( P<0.05 or P<0.01) . Conclusion Borneol can inhibit the proliferation of rabbit corneal epithelial cells, induce cell apoptosis through enhancing the expression of apoptosis-related gene Caspase-3 mRNA.