title: Anti-Cataract Potential of Heliotropium indicum Linn on Galactose-Induced Cataract in Sprague-Dawley Rats.
abstract: To evaluate the anti-cataract potential of an aqueous whole plant extract of Heliotropium indicum (HIE) on galactose-induced cataract in Sprague-Dawley rats.
  
  
  
  Cataract scores were recorded in 3-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats in which cataract was being induced by an oral administration of 1500 mgkg-1galactose twice daily for 4 weeks, and concurrently being treated with 30, 100, or 300 mgkg-1HIE daily over the induction period. Fasting blood glucose was monitored at weekly intervals. Changes in body weight as well as total lens protein, lens glutathione, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined initially, and at the end of the experimental period. Crystalline lens weight-to-body-weight ratio was also determined for the various treatment groups at the end of the experimental period. Preliminary phytochemical screening, total antioxidant capacity, and reducing power assays were conducted on HIE.
  
  
  
  The 30 and 100 mgkg-1HIE-treated rats recorded significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05-0.001) cataract scores (indicating very significant delays in cataractogenesis by the 3rdand 4thweeks of treatment) and blood glucose levels. Rats with delayed cataractogenesis also exhibited significant (p ≤ 0.05-0.001) weight gain, and reduction in lens weight. Total lens proteins glutathione and SOD levels in the crystalline lens were also significantly preserved (p ≤ 0.01-0.001). HIE showed substantial antioxidant capacity and reducing power.
  
  
  
  The aqueous whole plant extract of Heliotropium indicum delays cataractogenesis at an optimum dose of 30 mgkg-1in Sprague-Dawley rats.
authors.affiliation: a Discipline of Optometry, School of Health Sciences , College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.|b Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences , College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape-Coast , Cape-Coast , Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyei
authors.affiliation: a Discipline of Optometry, School of Health Sciences , College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.|c Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology , Kumasi , Ghana.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Koffuor
authors.affiliation: a Discipline of Optometry, School of Health Sciences , College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramkissoon
authors.affiliation: b Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences , College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape-Coast , Cape-Coast , Ghana.
authors.forename: Emmanuel K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Abu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences , College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape-Coast , Cape-Coast , Ghana.
authors.forename: Josephine F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sarpong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000633:toxicity; D028162:Heliotropium; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005690:Galactose
keywords: Antioxidant capacity; cataractogenesis; crystalline lens homogenate; glutathione; total lens protein