Investigation of the effects of Rosa damascena on arpe cells

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of permanent and irreversible vision loss in the elderly population. In the pathogenesis of the disease, cellular damage mechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells play a critical role. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate, under in vitro conditions, the effects of Rosa damascena—a plant widely used in traditional medicine—and resveratrol—a natural polyphenol with proven antioxidant properties—on degenerative processes such as oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, DNA damage, and angiogenesis in ARPE-19 cells exposed to H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. As a result, Rosa damascena showed significant beneficial effects on levels of VEGF-A, 8-OHdG, PARP-1, TOS, TAS, OSI, TNF-α, IL-1α, and apoptosis. Similarly, resveratrol also demonstrated protective effects on these parameters. Through its rich phenolic content, Rosa damascena reduced intracellular oxidative load by neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby significantly suppressing oxidative stress-induced DNA damage, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses. Alongside its antioxidant effects, it also alleviated inflammation by reducing the release of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1α) and limited pathological angiogenesis by lowering VEGF levels. Both agents individually exhibited significant protective effects against oxidative damage in ARPE-19 cells; however, when used in combination, they provided even more pronounced protection in certain parameters, indicating a synergistic effect. These findings suggest that Rosa damascena may be a promising candidate for use in therapeutic approaches, particularly in retinal diseases such as AMD where oxidative stress plays a major role. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in vitro study to evaluate the protective effects of Rosa damascena on ARPE-19 cells and compare them with resveratrol, thereby providing a scientific basis for alternative treatment strategies against AMD.