A study on protective effect of Piper longum and Hybanthus enneaspermus on glucose induced diabetic cataract in cultured goat lens

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: The maintenance of protein redox status, thought to be largely responsible for cell survival and function, may be the outcome of oxidative events, antioxidant protection and degradation of damaged proteins. Diabetes has been one of the substantial predisposing factors of cataract. Cataractogenesis in diabetes is mainly due to generation of free radicals causing oxidation of long-lived proteins. phytonutrient isolated from medicinal herbs are now proven to have great antioxidant & other therapeutic properties. The present study was done to understand the pathophysiology of diabetic cataract to formulate and develop novel and effective anticataract agents and to explore role of Piper longum and Hybanthus enneaspermus in the prevention of oxidative damage of lens proteins in glucose induced cataract. Material and Methods: A total of 120 goat lenses were distributed into four groups of 30 each viz. Normal control, experimental diabetic cataract, experimental diabetic cataract + extract of Piper longum (0.25%), experimental diabetic cataract extract of H. enneaspermus (0.25%). Various study parameters measured in lens homogenates comprised malondialdehyde (MDA), total soluble lens proteins, and protein carbonyl level as a measure of lens protein oxidation. Results: Both extract of Piper longum and H. enneaspermus showed significantly declined concentrations of protein carbonyl level, preserved total soluble proteins and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.001). P. longum aqueous seed extract performed better over H. enneaspermus. Conclusion: It is concluded that aqueous extract of Piper longum and H. enneaspermus contains potent antioxidant compounds which shown protective role against cataractogenesis in the present.