OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effect of puerarin [an isoflavone compound extracted from Gegen(Radix Puerariae Lobatae)] in scleral remodeling induced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields(ELF-EMFs).METHODS: Human fetal scleral fibroblasts(HFSFs)were divided into 5 groups:(a) untreated controls;(b) cells treated with ELF-EMFs;(c) cells treated with ELF-EMFs and puerarin 0.1 μM;(d) cells treated with ELF-EMFs and puerarin 1 μM;(e) cells treated with ELF-EMFs and puerarin 10 μM. Cell proliferation activity was measured by the cell-counting kit-8 assay. Matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) activity was measured by gelatin enzymography.MMP-2 and collagenⅠ(COL1A1) m RNA, protein expression were measured by Real-Time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, respectively.RESULTS: Puerarin reduced the inhibition in cell proliferation, MMP-2 activity, m RNA, protein expression of HFSFs exposed to ELF-EMFs and enhanced the COL1A1 m RNA and protein expression.CONCLUSION: Puerarin was found to participate in the matrix remodeling process. It might be a potential agent for the treatment of extracellular matrix degradation of sclera associated with ocular conditions.