Abstract

STUDY THE EFFECT OF FRESH LEAVES EXTRACT OF TAMARINDUS INDICA LINN. ON ISOLATED GOAT LENS AGAINST GALACTOSE-INDUCED CATARACT

Merugu Srikanth¹*, Veeresh B1, Manjula E²

ABSTRACT

Cataract is visual impairment as a result of a disturbance of lens transparency. It is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Cataract commonly affects both eyes, but it is not uncommon for cataract in one eye to advance more rapidly, apart from aging, various risk factors such as nutritional deficiencies or inadequacies, diabetes, sunlight, environmental factors, smoking and lack of consumption of antioxidants are known to increase the risk of cataract. It is one of the leading cause of blindness worldwide, it accounts for approximately42% of all blindness. More than 17 million people are blind because of cataract, and 28000 new cases are reported daily worldwide. This current study is deals with isolated goat lenses using for the evaluation of anticataract activity of fresh leaf extract of Tamarindus indica Linn. as in vitro. Isolated goat lenses were incubated in artificial aqueous humor (TC 199 medium) containing galactose (cataractogenesis) and Tamarindus indica Linn. Fresh leaf extract in different concentrations kept at room temperature for 72 h and renewed with fresh solution for every 24h. Biochemical parameters were studied in the lens homogenate prepared in Tris buffer, which are end metabolites like malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid peroxidase and proteins. In results the cataractous lenses showed higher MDA (P<0.001), and water-soluble protein content. Lenses treated with Tamarindus indica Linn. Leaf extract in concentrations of 100, 200μg/ml showed decreased MDA, higher protein (total proteins) content, increased antioxidants and prevented formation and progress of cataract by galactose, as evidenced by biochemical parameters.

Keywords: Cataractogenesis, Galactose, cataractous lens, Cataract, Tamarindus indica Linn.