Anticataract potential of Boerhavia diffusa roots on galactose induced cataractogenesis

Cataract has been a major cause of bilateral blindness worldwide, and it is responsible for 50-80% of the bilaterally blindness in India. Oxidative stress is the major risk factor causing cataract. Boerhavia diffusa, commonly known as spreading hogweed or tarvine and locally, punarnava, is known for its antioxidant potential. Here, we evaluated anticataract potential of alcoholic extract of B. diffusa roots using galactose induced cataract model on Wistar albino rats. The rats were divided into five groups. The first group was taken as control, the second as disease control group and all other three groups test groups, given three doses of plant extracts i.e. 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body wt., respectively for 28 days. Periodically slit lamp photographs were taken to know the percentage incidence and progression of cataract. The plant extract significantly delayed the onset and maturation of galactose induced cataract. Biochemical analyses were performed at the end of the study. The analyses revealed the plant extract at highest dose exhibited an efficient antioxidant effect. It has shown 69% inhibition on galactitol accumulation. Aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory activity was also performed on isolated rat lenses. The significant percentage inhibition of AR was shown at a dose of 70 mu g/mL. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the alcoholic extract of Boerhavia diffusa roots delay the process of cataractogenesis in galactose induced cataract.