Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the toxic effect of dihydroartemisinine on rabbit corneal epithelial cells in vitro. Design Experimental study. Participants Rabbit corneal epithelial cells in vitro.  Methods Different concentrations (1.6%, 0.8%, 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.05%, 0.025%) of dihydroartemisinin was added to the cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells in vitro. Chlorhexidine and PHMB were  used as controls. The morphology of cells were observed in 2, 6 and 24 hr under optical microscope. LIVE/DEAD staining was used to observe the changes of the rabbit corneal epithelial cells after drug action under fluorescence microscope. Main Outcome Measures Morphological changes of the epithelial cells under optical microscope and fluorescence microscope. Results At the point of 2 and 6 hr after culturing, the rims of cells were rounded and the gaps were widened under the action of 0.4% dihydroartemisinine. The gaps of cells began to appear widening and unclear under the action of 0.0125% chlorhexidine. The boundary of cells began to appear unclear and there were intracellular particle changes under the action of 0.003% PHMB. At the point of 24 hr after culturing, corneal epithelial cells were still alive under the action of 0.1% dihydroartemisinine. No effect on corneal epithelial cells under 0.025% dihydroartemisinine. The cells were dead under 0.006% chlorhexidine and 0.003% PHMB. Conclusion Dihydroartemisinine is hypotoxic for rabbit corneal epithelial cells in vitro and its effect on corneal cells in vivo remains to be further studied.

Key words: dihydroartemisinine, corneal epithelial cells, cytotoxicity, rabbit