Abstract
Recently, substances possessing antioxidant can prevent cataractogenesis of diabetic cataract. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the anticataract effect of Zea mays L. (purple waxy corn), a flavonoids rich plant, in experimental diabetic cataract. Enucleated rat lenses were incubated in artificial aqueous humor containing 55 mM glucose with various concentrations of Zea mays L. (purple waxy corn) ranging between 2, 10, and 50 mg/mL at room temperature for 72 h. At the end of the incubation period, the evaluation of lens opacification, MDA level, and the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, and AR in lens were performed. The results showed that both medium and high doses of extract decreased lens opacity together with the decreased MDA level. In addition, medium dose of extract increased GPx activity while the high dose decreased AR activity. No other significant changes were observed. The purple waxy corn seeds extract is the potential candidate to protect against diabetic cataract. The mechanism of action may occur via the decreased oxidative stress and the suppression of AR. However, further research in vivo is still essential.
Highlights
Cataract, a visual impairment induced by optical dysfunction of crystallin lens, is an important complication of diabetic patients
The incubation of lens with 55 mM of glucose for 72 hours clearly revealed the increased lens opacity (P value
Based on the previous finding that oxidative stress plays the crucial role on cataractogenesis [23], we investigated the effect of purple waxy corn seeds extract on oxidative stress markers including level of MDA and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT, and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) in lens as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5
Summary
A visual impairment induced by optical dysfunction of crystallin lens, is an important complication of diabetic patients. It has been recognized as a major cause of blindness in developed and developing countries [1]. The toxic effect of oxidative stress is neutralized in lens by both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), the main important enzymatic antioxidants in lens of diabetic cataract, are decreased. The decrease of antioxidant enzymes mentioned earlier appears to play a pivotal role on the elevation of oxidative stress and cataractogenesis of diabetic cataract [5]. Several lines of evidence have demonstrated that flavonoids, the important phenolic compounds in fruits and vegetables, exert the protective effect against cataractogenesis of diabetic cataract [6, 7]
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