title: Anti-cataract activity of Pterocarpus marsupium bark and Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds extract in alloxan diabetic rats.
abstract: Long-term complications are frequently encountered in diabetes mellitus and are difficult to treat. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of three antidiabetic plants on the development of cataract in rats. An aqueous extract of Pterocarpus marsupium Linn bark (PM, Hindi name: Vijaysar) (1 g kg(-1) day(-1)), Ocimum sanctum Linn leaves (OS, Hindi name, Tulsi) (200 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) and alcoholic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn seeds (FG, Hindi name, Methi) (2 g kg(-1) day(-1)) were given to alloxan (120 mg kg(-1)) diabetic rats until the development of cataract. Serum glucose and body weight were monitored at regular intervals while cataract was examined through naked eye as well as slit lamp at 75, 100 and 115 days after alloxan administration. Administration of all the three plant extracts exerted a favorable effect on body weight and blood glucose, the effects were best with PM followed by FG and OS. On the course of cataract development, PM followed by FG exerted anti-cataract effect evident from decreased opacity index while OS failed to produce any anti-cataract effect in spite of significant antihyperglycemic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 4th Floor, Teaching Block, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vats
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Grover
mesh_terms: D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D035721:Pterocarpus; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D012639:Seeds; D029910:Trigonella
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000496:Alloxan