title: Preventive Effect of Tephrosia purpurea on Selenite-Induced Experimental Cataract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent investigations have shown that phytochemical antioxidants can scavenge free radicals and prevent various diseases like cataract. The objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy of the Tephrosia purpurea in preventing these changes in the lens of selenite-induced cataract models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cataract was induced by a single injection of sodium selenite (4 mg/kg, s.c.) to 9-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups. The treatment with different extracts of T. purpurea was started on 10th day and continued for 30 days in pups pretreated with sodium selenite. The animals were treated orally with either quercetin (1 mg/kg), flavonoid rich fraction (40 mg/kg) or alcohol extract (300 mg/kg) of T. purpurea. Cataract was visualized after 30 days. Encapsulated lenses were analyzed for reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde. Lenses were also analyzed for total protein, insoluble protein, total nitrite, calcium levels, protein sulfhydryl content as well as for the activities of superoxide dismutase and Ca(2+)-ATPase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphological examination of the rat lenses revealed normal transparent lens with minimal or partial nuclear opacity in control whereas dense opacity developed in rat lens treated with selenite. Both the extracts of T. purpurea produced reduction in nuclear opacity as well as improvement in the insoluble proteins, protein sulfhydryl, total nitrite, calcium levels and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in lenses. The extracts decreased malondialdehyde levels but also prevented the loss of reduced glutathione levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggests therapeutic potential of T. purpurea for the treatment of cataract.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University , Ahmedabad , Gujarat , India .
authors.forename: Shraddha V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Bhadada
authors.affiliation: b Vikas Eye Hospital , Ahmedabad , Gujarat , India and.
authors.forename: Vikas J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Bhadada
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Life Sciences, Ahmedabad University , Ahmedabad , Gujarat , India.
authors.forename: Ramesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Goyal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000633:toxicity; D031304:Tephrosia / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D005978:Glutathione; D018038:Sodium Selenite; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Cataract; Tephrosia purpurea; quercetin; rutin; selenite-induced cataract; sodium selenite