Abstract
Context: Cataract is the clouding of eye lens which causes impairment in vision and accounts for the leading factor of global blindness. Functional food-based prevention of cataract finds application in vision research because of its availability and easy access to all classes of the society. Cassia tora Linn. (Caesalpinaceae) is an edible plant mentioned in the traditional systems of medicine for whole body health, especially to the eyes.Objective: The present study evaluates the potential of ethyl acetate fraction of Cassia tora leaves (ECT) on experimental cataract.Materials and methods: Cataract was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite (4 μg/g body weight) on 10th day. ECT was supplemented orally from 8th day up to 12th day at a concentration of 5 μg/g body weight and marker parameters were evaluated after 30 days.Results: The production of MPO and the activation of calpain were reduced 52.17% and 36.67% by ECT in lens tissue, respectively. It modulated the energy status by significantly increasing the activity of CCO 1 (55.56%) and ATP production (41.88%). ECT maintained the ionic balance in the lens by reducing the level of sodium (50%) and increasing the level of potassium (42.5%). It also reduced cell junction modifications and preserved a functional ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.Discussion and conclusion: The results reinforce the growing attention on wild plant food resources for preventive protection against cataract. The data suggest the value of Cassia tora leaves as a functional food for ameliorating cataract pathology.
Highlights
Visual impairment is any visual condition that affects an individual’s ability to successfully complete the day to day activities of life
The major factors responsible for cataract formation are believed to be the oxidative attack to lens proteins, lipids and lenticular epithelial cells, calcium accumulation (Gao et al 2004), lens epithelial cell apoptosis (Lee et al 2002), protein aggregation (Moreau & King 2012), inflammatory responses (Uchio et al 1998), lenticular cell junction modification (Berthoud & Beyer 2009), disturbance in energy production (Balog et al 2001), disturbed ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (Viteri et al 2004), etc
The gene transcript of Cytochrome C oxidase 1 (CCO 1) was found to be reduced in the cataract group and ECT supplementation resulted in the 1.29-fold increase in their expression in group IV
Summary
Visual impairment is any visual condition that affects an individual’s ability to successfully complete the day to day activities of life. Uncorrected refractive errors, cataract, glaucoma, etc., are the major causative factors of visual impairment. Cataract is the clouding of the lens, which initially reduces the clarity of the vision and eventually progresses to blindness if left untreated. The eye lens is a transparent organelle devoid of blood supply and the lens proteins do not undergo any turnover during one’s whole life. It is a unique tissue by its architecture and any factor that affects the normal physiology of lens forms opacity and cataract. In spite of the availability of intraocular lens implants, cataract remains the leading cause of blindness in developing countries. Many post-operative complications such as endo-epithelial corneal oedema, cystoid macular oedema, uveitis, haemorrhagic complications, bullous keratopathy, infection, double vision, high or low eye pressure, secondary cataract, etc. were reported (Koos et al 2003)
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