Aldose-reductase inhibitors and cataract formation (author's transl)

Abstract

Flavonoids are known as potent inhibitors of aldose reductase, an enzyme that may initiate cataract formation in diabetes. We have tested the inhibitory activity of new flavone derivatives on a homogenate of lens epithelium. Compounds which inhibited the enzyme activity by more than 50 percent at 10(-60) M were then tested on rat lenses perfused in a 0.027 M glucose solution. Our preliminary studies indicate that these new flavone derivatives can prevent or delay the formation of cataract in an in-vitro model.