• Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Nrf2 Pathway by Zataria multiflora Essential Oil in Prevention of Selenite-Induced Cataract in Rats: Biochemical and Molecular Insights
  • Rasul Moukhah,1 Mahboobeh Ashrafi,2,* Kiana Hassanpour,3 Delaram Doroud,4 Behzad Esfandiari,5
    1. Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University P.O. Box: 71345-1731, Shiraz, Iran
    2. Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University P.O. Box: 71345-1731, Shiraz, Iran
    3. Ophthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    4. Department of Production, Research and Production Complex, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
    5. Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Karaj, Iran


  • Introduction: This study investigates the modulation of oxidative stress and the Nrf2 signaling pathway by Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil (ZE) in preventing selenite-induced cataracts in rats. Cataracts, a leading cause of visual impairment worldwide, primarily result from oxidative damage to the lens. Although Zataria multiflora is traditionally recognized as one of the top ten herbs for cataract treatment in Iranian medicine, scientific evidence supporting its efficacy remains limited.
  • Methods: Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly assigned to six groups: control (C), olive oil vehicle control (CV), ZE-treated control (CE), selenite-induced cataract (S), selenite plus vehicle (SV), and selenite plus ZE (SE). Cataracts were induced by a single subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite (30 μmol/kg) on postnatal day eight. The CE and SE groups received oral gavage of ZE twice weekly from postnatal day six for five weeks. Cataract progression was assessed weekly by a blinded ophthalmologist using the Hiraoka scale. At the end of the study, lenses were collected for morphological imaging and biochemical analysis of oxidative stress markers, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and Nrf2 expression.
  • Results: Results demonstrated that ZE significantly delayed the onset and reduced the severity of lens opacification in the SE group compared to the selenite-only group. Biochemical analyses revealed a marked decrease in MDA, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, alongside increased TAC, elevated GSH levels, and enhanced expression of the antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2 in lens tissues. Prior histological assessments have confirmed the preservation of lens cellular integrity following ZE treatment. Additionally, an unintentional reassignment of a rat from the S to the SE group highlighted ZE’s potential to modulate cataract progression at various stages.
  • Conclusion: Collectively, these findings emphasize Zataria multiflora essential oil as a potent natural agent that mitigates cataractogenesis through antioxidative mechanisms and activation of the Nrf2 pathway. This study supports the development of ZE as a cost-effective preventive strategy and underscores the need for further molecular and clinical investigations
  • Keywords: Cataract, Oxidative stress, Zataria multiflora Boiss,, Sodium selenite, Nrf2.