In Vitro Antioxidant and Ex Vivo Anticataract Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Cordia obliqua Willd

Abstract

Cordia obliqua has a long history of use in the treatment of cataract and other eye-related problems in Indian traditional medicine. High oxidative stress is one of the major underlying causes of cataract which results in the precipitation of natural protein present in the lenses with aging. This research has been carried out to determine the anti-cataract activity of Cordia obliqua by performing various antioxidant techniques such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide, ABTS radical cation and Ferric reducing antioxidant potential studies in oxidative stress–induced ex vivo cataract model. Results of the study conducted in the hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Cordia obliqua revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, etc. Total phenol and total flavonoid content was found to be 53 ± 3.21and 26.12 ± 2.54% respectively, which revealed that the plant contains a good amount of these compounds and hence possesses good antioxidant activity. Furthermore, IC50 values obtained from all the methods gave strong evidence regarding the antioxidant potential of this plant. Anti-cataract activity was also investigated using goat eye lenses and promising results were obtained which speak voluminously about its anti-cataract potential and support its well-prescribed use. Results obtained with this study clearly supported the significant antioxidant potential and anticataract activity of this plant. Further, this plant demands great attention for the development of suitable novel dosage forms for the effective treatment of cataract.
 Keywords: Cordia obliqua, cataract, High oxidative stress