Abstract
We evaluated the inhibitor effects of extracts and components of Geranium thunbergii on aldose reductase (AR) and galactitol formation in rat lenses with high levels of galactose as a part of our ongoing search of natural sources for therapeutic and preventive agents for diabetic complications. The inhibitory effects of water, methanol and ethanol extracts of G. thunbergii on rat lens AR (RLAR) were determined. Comparing inhibitory effects of various solvent extracts, ethanol extract showed RLAR inhibitory activity (IC50 values, 5.24 and 6.39 μg/㎖, respectively). The ethanol extract was fractionated to chloroform, ethyl acetate and water. Of these, the ethyl acetate fraction from ethanol extract of G. thunbergii exhibited RLAR inhibitory activity (IC50 value, 2.64 μg/㎖). In order to identify the bioactive components of ethyl acetate soluble fraction of ethanol extract from G. thunbergii, eight compounds, namely gallic acid (1), protocatechuic acid (2), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (3), brevifolin carboxylic acid (4), geraniin (5), ellagic acid (6), kaempferol-3-O-arabinofuranosyl-7-O-rham-nopyranoside (7), kaempferitrin (8) were isolated. The isolates were subjected to in vitro bioassays to evaluate their inhibitory activity on RLAR and galactitol formation in rat lenses. The ellagic tannins (5, 6) and flavonoid (7) exhibited strong inhibitory effects on RLAR. Also, these three compounds (5, 6 and 7) suppressed galactitol accumulation in rat lens under high galactose conditions, demonstrating the potential to prevent galactitol accumulation exo vivo. These results suggest that the extracts and components of G. thunbergii are a promising agent in the prevention or treatment of diabetic complications.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.