Antioxidant potential of Emblica officinalis (amla) aqueous extract delays cataractogenesis in hyperglycemic goat lenses

Abstract

Aim: To study the antioxidant role of Emblica officinalis aqueous extract in delaying cataractogenesis in hyperglycemic goat lenses. Study design: Experimental study. Place and Duration of study: Department of Biochemistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College, Pune, India, between February 2012 to June 2012. Methodology: Dried powder of Emblica officinalis fruit pericarp was obtained and crude water extract was prepared. Fresh goat lenses were removed from the eyeballs and divided into 3 groups as follows: Group I Normal lenses ,incubated in Tissue Culture medium 199 (TC199), Group II & IIIExperimental Cataract lenses incubated with TC 199 + 110mM Dextrose solution and TC 199 + 110mM Dextrose solution + 0.25% E.officinalis aqueous extract respectively. After 72 hours of incubation, lenses were homogenized in 0.1M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 and the supernatant was used for biochemical analysis. Effect of the extract on lens total soluble proteins, TBARS and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase was statistically analyzed. Results: The lens total soluble proteins were maintained, TBARS were reduced and there was a significant rise in the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in the lenses incubated with the E.officinalis extract as compared to hyperglycemic lenses. Conclusion: The study highlights the antioxidant nature of E.officinalis which may play an important role in the prevention of hyperglycemia induced cataract.