• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2004

The efficacy of Kohl-Chikni Dawa (KCD), a compound ophthalmic formulation of Unani medicine, to control cataract development was explored in rats fed 25% galactose with the diet for 6 months. When one drop of 3% KCD solution was applied (once and twice daily) in both eyes for 6 months in galactose-fed rats, a significant reduction of lens opacification was noticed. The morphological changes of the lenses were observed every month by slit-lamp biomicroscope. These results suggest that the local application of 3% KCD solution possesses anticataract effect in galactose-fed rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.178-183
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• 2016

Naturally occurring coumarin compounds have received substantial attention due to their pharmaceutical effects. Esculetin is a coumarin derivative and a polyphenol compound that is used in a variety of therapeutic and pharmacological strategies. However, its effect on aldose reductase activity remains poorly understood. In this study, the potential beneficial effects of esculetin on lenticular aldose reductase were investigated in galactose-fed (GAL) rats, an animal model of sugar cataracts. Cataracts were induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats via a 50% galactose diet for 2 weeks, and groups of GAL rats were orally treated with esculetin (10 or 50 mg/kg body weight). In vehicle-treated GAL rats, lens opacification was observed, and swelling and membrane rupture of the lens fiber cells were increased. Additionally, aldose reductase was highly expressed in the lens epithelium and superficial cortical fibers during cataract development in the GAL rats. Esculetin reduced rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR) activity in vitro, and esculetin treatment significantly inhibited lens opacity, as well as morphological alterations, such as swelling, vacuolation and liquefaction of lens fibers, via the inhibition of aldose reductase in the GAL rats. These results indicate that esculetin is a useful treatment for galactose-induced cataracts.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 1994

The ether, ethylacetate and n-butanol soluble fractions from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis showed a significant inhibition of lens aldose reductase (AR) activity in vitro. During systematic fractionation of the active fractions, 7 flavonoids were isolated and compared their inhibitory activities against rat AR using DL-glyceraldehyde as a substrate, among which baicalin (VII) was found to exhibit the most potent inhibitory activity. Baicalin (VII) and wogonin-7-O-glucuronide (VI), with repeated treatments (30 mg/kg/day, i.p.) throughout the experimental periods caused a significant suppression of cataract formation induced by galactose (40 g/kg/day) as well as the decrease of galactitol accumulation in the rat lens. The flavonoids also exhibited a significant inhibition of sorbitol accumulation in the lenses of diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.331-336
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• 1994

The ether extract from the roots of angelica clahurica was found to inhibit bovine lens aldose reductase (BLAR0 activity in vitro by 100% at 100.mu.g/ml. Systematic fractionation of the ether soluble fraction and subsequent active frctions monitorede by bioassy led to isolation of four furanocoumarins, isoimperatorin (I0, imperatorin (II), ter-O-methyl byakangelicin (III) and byakangelicin (IV), among which compound III and IV were identified as potential AR inhibitors, their $IC_{50}$ values being $2.8{\mu}M{\;}and{\;}6.2{\mu}M$, respectively. Galactosemic cataract formation tors, in rats treated with 40 g/kg/day of galactose was blocked almost completely throughout the exeprimental periods up to 44 days by i.p. administrations of byakangelicin (IV) at 50 mg/kg/day. In coincidence with the inhibitory action on cataract formation, the galactitol accumulation in rats treated with byakangelicin (IV) was found to be markedly prevented by approximately 80.5% compared to those of the contro. These results indicate that byakangelicin (IV), as a main principle of this plant, possesses high potential for a clinically useful drug of the future which prevents and/or improves sugar cataract as well as diabetic complications.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.555-561
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• 1994

In order to study the effect of some oriental prescriptions for polydipsia on experimental diabetes mellitus and cataract, Cheongsimyeonja-eum, Kamijowiseungki-tang and Kikukjihwang-tang were administered to streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic and galactose-induced cataractous rats. The increased level of serum glucose and urea nitrogen owing to 572 were significantly decreased by administration of Cheongsimyeonja-eum, Kamijowiseungki-tang and Kikukjihwang-tang. The increased level of serum triglyceride and total cholesterol owing to STZ were significantly decreased by administration of Kamijowiseungki-tang and Kikukjihwang-tang. Reduction of body weight owing to STZ was significantly recovered in 7th day since administration of Cheongsimyeonja-eum and Kamijowiseungki-tang. Weight of liver was significantly recovered by administration of Cheongsimyeonja-eum and Kamijowiseungki-tang and weight of kidney was significantly recovered only by administration of Kikukjihwang-tang. The polydipsia of water and food were significantly decreased by administration of Cheongsimyeonja-eum, Kamijowiseungki-tang and Kikukjihwang-tang. Onset of cataract in experimental group owing to galactose was not significantly different from control group.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2009

Aldose reductase (AR) has been reported to play an important role in sugar-induced cataract. In the present study, the AR inhibitory activity of Enicostemma hyssopifolium (EH), Gymnema sylvestre, Eclipta alba, and Tinospora cordifolia (TC) were studied along with their effect on sugar-induced cataractogenic changes in sheep lenses in vitro. AR inhibitory activity of the aqueous extracts of plants and their anticataract potentials were evaluated in vitro in sheep lenses, considering the activity of normal sheep lenses as 100%. The concentration of the plant extract that showed maximum activity was selected to further study its effect on galactose-induced polyol accumulation in vitro. The $IC_50$ values of EH and TC were calculated to be 102 and 85 ${\mu}g$/ml, respectively. EH showed a significant inhibition (61.3%) in polyol accumulation followed by TC (53.1%). EH and TC possesses a significant anticataract activity in vitro and its anticataract potential could be related with its AR inhibitory effect.