title: Grape seed extract and zinc containing nutritional food supplement prevents onset and progression of age-related cataract in wistar rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study possible inhibition of oxidative stress and cataract formation by single combined formulation of grape seed extract and Zincovit tablets against sodium selenite-induced age-related cataract in Wistar rat pups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oxidative stress and consequent cataract formation was induced by subcutaneous administration of a single dose of sodium selenite (10 µmoles/kg) to Wistar rat pups on day 7 post-natally. In experiments designed to inhibit such cataract formation, the pups were pretreated subcutaneously with combined formulation of grape seed extract and Zincovit tablets (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg), one day prior to the administration of selenite and continuing such treatment till day 20, when the experiments were terminated. The extent of tissue damage caused by the selenite was assessed biochemically by measurements of the levels of reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, protein thiol, catalase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, aldose reductase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and adenosine triphosphate in the isolated lenses. Cataract formation and its prevention were monitored by examining the eye with pen light illumination and subsequent photography of the isolated lenses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Injection of selenite led to a significant loss of lens clarity due to cataract formation. In the group treated with combined formulation of grape seed extract and Zincovit tablets, the formation of cataract was significantly prevented. In the normal and selenite induced senile cataract control group, the levels of lens oxidative stress markers, G6PD and ATP were substantially lower than in the grape seed extract with Zincovit tablets treated group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over all, the results suggest that single combined formulation of grape seed extract and Zincovit tablets may offer a prophylactic measure against onset and progression of age- related cataract of human subjects as nutritional food supplement.
authors.affiliation: Dr. K. L. Bairy, Professor and Head of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal-576104, Karnataka (India). Phone number- 0820-2922365, Fax number- 0820-2922083, E-mail- klbairy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mani Satyam
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kurady Bairy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pirasanthan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lalit Vaishnav
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D056604:Grape Seed Extract / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D056604:Grape Seed Extract; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D018038:Sodium Selenite; D015032:Zinc