title: Delayed progression of diabetic cataractogenesis and retinopathy by Litchi chinensis in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the aqueous fruit pericarp extract of Litchi chinensis (APLC) on parameters which leads to diabetic cataractogenesis and retinopathy in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study is to evaluate the APLC for in vivo antioxidant activity and its role in inhibiting the polyol pathway and formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The diabetic animals were treated with L. chinensis for a period of 12 weeks. At the end of 12 weeks, the animals were killed and the biochemical pathways involved in the pathogenesis of cataract such as oxidative stress by protein content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and polyolpathway by aldose reductase (AR) in lens homogenates, alterations in protein carbonyl content (PCO) and AGEs in both serum and lens the APLC-treated diabetic rats were compared against diabetic control rats. Cataract progression due to hyperglycemia was monitored by slit lamp bio microscope and classified into four stages. Fundoscope test and retinal histopathology were done for assessing retinopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant reduction in glucose, and elevation of protein content, SOD, CAT, and GSH levels and decreased levels of AR and PCO in lens homogenate and significant reduction in AGEs serum and lens homogenate were observed. Slit lamp examination, fundoscope, and histopathology showed improvement in retinal changes in APLC-treated rats compared to diabetic control animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment with APLC found to delay the progression of diabetic cataractogenesis and retinopathy, which might be due to its antioxidant activity, because of the presence of active phytochemicals in APLC.
authors.affiliation: a Pharmacology Division, A.U. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University , Visakhapatnam , India.
authors.forename: Eswar Kumar
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kilari
authors.affiliation: a Pharmacology Division, A.U. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University , Visakhapatnam , India.
authors.forename: Swathi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Putta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005638:Fruit; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032125:Litchi; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Cataractogenesis; Litchi chinensis; retinopathy