Polyphenols of Cassia tora leaves prevents lenticular apoptosis and modulates cataract pathology in Sprague-Dawley rat pups.
Cataract is a leading cause of visual impairment worldwide with multifactorial etiology and is a significant global health problem with increasing prevalence with age. Currently, no pharmacological measures are discovered to prevent and treat cataract and a significant number of epidemiological studies have suggested the potential role of antioxidants in the prevention of cataract by scavenging free radicals and preventing lens protein derangement and lenticular cell damage. The main goal of the present study is to evaluate Cassia tora leaves; an edible leafy vegetable employed in Ayurvedic and Chinese system of medicine for eye rejuvenation in preventing selenite-induced cataract in rat pups and to identify the active components that produce the effect. ECT pre-treatment effectively restored both enzymatic and metabolic antioxidant levels, membrane integrity and reduced metal accumulation and thus down-regulate epithelial cell death. Gene expression studies also confirmed these findings. ESI-MS analysis of ECT revealed the presence of chrysophanol, emodin, kaemferol, quercetin, stigmasterol and isoquercetin. The study suggests the possible role of C. tora in alleviating cataract pathology and presence of many anthraquinones and flavonoids. As it is an edible plant, the incorporation of these leaves in daily vegetables might prevent or delay the onset and maturation of cataract.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695581, Kerala, India.
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Sreelakshmi
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695581, Kerala, India. Electronic address: annieab2001@gmail.com.
Annie
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Abraham
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002366:Cassia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014815:Vitamins / Q000032:analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D005136:Eye Proteins; D059808:Polyphenols; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014815:Vitamins; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D012643:Selenium
Anthraquinones; Apoptosis; Cataract; Flavonoids; Trace elements