Background: To investigate whether hazelnut prevents doxorubicin-inducedexperimental cataract in rats. Material/Methods: Seventy-five 4-week-old male Wistar albino rats wererandomized into 5 equal groups. Beginning from 6 weeks of age, the groups were treated with intraperitonealinjections of saline solution or doxorubicin (DR) for 4 weeks. Group 1 received saline solution (0.5ml/200 g) weekly, groups 2 and 4 a cumulative dose of 6 mg/kg (1.5 mg/kg/week) of DR, and groups 3 and5 received a cumulative dose of 12 mg/kg (3 mg/kg/week) DR. All the rats were fed ad libitum with a 24%protein rodent chow. Groups 4 and 5 were additionally fed 5 g/day hazelnut. At the end of the tenth weekthe rats were sacrificed and cataract development was investigated histopathologically. The groups werestatistically compared. Results: All control lenses (group 1) were macroscopically clear. Cataractouschanges were noted in 7 eyes (47%) in group 2 and in 10 (67%) in group 3 (p=0.01). Groups 3 and 5 hadcataractous changes in 4 (27%) and 5 (33%) eyes, respectively (p=0.001). The cataract development ratiowas different between groups 2 and 4 (p=0.013), while there was no such difference between groups 3 and5 (p=0.053). Histopathological findings suggesting cataractogenesis were eosinophilic degeneration, corticallens-fiber cell swelling, and the retention of nuclei in central fibers. Conclusions: Hazelnut preventeddoxorubicin-induced cataract in low doses. Since it has no known harmful effect on healthy cells, itmay be beneficial in humans.

Keywords: Antioxidants - administration & dosage, Antioxidants - metabolism, Antioxidants - pharmacology, Antioxidants - therapeutic use, Cataract - chemically induced, Cataract - metabolism, Cataract - pathology, Cataract - prevention & control, Corylus, Diet, Doxorubicin - antagonists & inhibitors, Doxorubicin - pharmacology, Phytotherapy, Antioxidants - therapeutic use, Cataract - prevention & control, Corylus, Diet, Doxorubicin - pharmacology, Phytotherapy