Identification of phytoconstituents and in-vitro evaluation of the putative anticataractogenic effect of an ethanolic root extract of Leucas aspera

Natural Antioxidant Activities of Plants in Preventing Cataractogenesis

A cataract is a condition that causes 17 million people to experience blindness and is the most significant cause of vision loss, around 47.9%. The formation of cataracts is linked to both the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the reduction of endogenous antioxidants. ROS are highly reactive molecules produced by oxygen. Examples of ROS include peroxides, super-oxides, and hydroxyl radicals. ROS are produced in cellular responses to xenobiotics and bacterial invasion and during mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Excessive ROS can trigger oxidative stress that initiates the progression of eye lens opacities. ROS and other free radicals are highly reactive molecules because their outer orbitals have one or more unpaired electrons and can be neutralized by electron-donating compounds, such as antioxidants. Examples of natural antioxidant compounds are vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. Numerous studies have demonstrated that plants contain numerous antioxidant compounds that can be used as cataract preventatives or inhibitors. Natural antioxidant extracts for cataract therapy may be investigated further in light of these findings, which show that consuming a sufficient amount of antioxidant-rich plants is an excellent approach to cataract prevention. Several other natural compounds also prevent cataracts by inhibiting aldose reductase and preventing apoptosis of the eye lens.

Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Acacia concinna and Citrus limon, Silver Nanoparticles’ Production by A. concinna Extract, and Their Biological Properties

The applications of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants as therapeutic drugs are largely increasing. The present study selected the bioactive compounds from Acacia concinna (A. concinna) and Citrus limon (C. limon) to assess their phytochemicals, proteins, and biological activity. The plant material was collected, and extraction performed as per the standard procedure. Qualitative analysis was undertaken, and identification of functional organic groups was performed by FTIR and HPLC. Antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and inhibition kinetics studies for enzymes were performed to assess the different biological activities. Flavonoids and phenols were present in a significant amount in both the selected plants. A. concinna showed significant antimicrobial activity against Z. mobilis, E. coli, and S. aureus, with minimum inhibition zones (MIZ) of 24, 22, and 20 mm, respectively. C. limon strongly inhibited all the tested pathogenic bacteria with maximum and minimum MIZ of 32 and 17 mm. A. concinna silver nanoparticles also exhibited potent antimicrobial activity. Both extracts showed substantial antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, anticancer (MCF-7), and anti-urease (antiulcer) properties. To conclude, these plants can be used to treat hyperlipidemia, diabetes, cancer, and gastrointestinal ulcers. They can also serve as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Thus, the studied plants must be exploited cost-effectively to generate therapeutic drugs for various diseases.

Evaluation of the Putative Efficacy of a Methanolic Extract of Ocimum Basilicum in Preventing Disruption of Structural Proteins in an in Vitro System of Selenite-induced Cataractogenesis

Purpose: To evaluate whether a methanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum (OB) leaves prevented lenticular protein alterations in an in-vitro model of selenite-induced cataractogenesis.Materials and Methods: Transparent lenses extirpated from Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control; selenite only; treated. Control lenses were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) alone, selenite only lenses were cultured in DMEM containing sodium selenite only (100 µM selenite/ml DMEM) and treated lenses were cultured in DMEM containing sodium selenite and the methanolic extract of OB leaves (200 µg of extract/ml DMEM); all lenses were cultured for 24 h and then processed. The parameters assessed in lenticular homogenates were lenticular protein sulfhydryl and carbonyl content, calcium level, insoluble to soluble protein ratio, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic (SDS-PAGE) patterns of lenticular proteins, and mRNA transcript and protein levels of αA-crystallin and βB1-crystallins.Results: Selenite only lenses exhibited alterations in all parameters assessed. Treated lenses exhibited values for these parameters that were comparable to those noted in normal control lenses.Conclusions: The methanolic extract of OB leaves prevented alterations in lenticular protein sulfhydryl and carbonyl content, calcium level, insoluble to soluble protein ratio, SDS-PAGE patterns of lenticular proteins, and expression of αA-crystallin and βB1-crystallin gene and proteins in cultured selenite-challenged lenses. OB may be further evaluated as a promising agent for the prevention of cataract.

S-Allylmercapro-N-Acetylcysteine Attenuates the Oxidation-Induced Lens Opacification and Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Death In Vitro

The capacity of S-Allylmercapto-N-acetylcysteine (ASSNAC) to protect human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells (line ARPE-19) and porcine lenses from oxidative stress was studied. Confluent ARPE-19 cultures were incubated with ASSNAC or N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) followed by exposure to oxidants and glutathione level and cell survival were determined. Porcine lenses were incubated with ASSNAC and then exposed to H₂O₂ followed by lens opacity measurement and determination of glutathione (reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG)) in isolated lens adhering epithelial cells (lens capsule) and fiber cells consisting the lens cortex and nucleus (lens core). In ARPE-19 cultures, ASSNAC (0.2 mM; 24 h) increased glutathione level by 2–2.5-fold with significantly higher increase in GSH compared to NAC treated cultures. Similarly, ex-vivo exposure of lenses to ASSNAC (1 mM) significantly reduced the GSSG level and prevented H₂O₂ (0.5 mM)-induced lens opacification. These results demonstrate that ASSNAC up-regulates glutathione level in RPE cells and protects them from oxidative stress-induced cell death as well as protects lenses from oxidative stress-induced opacity. Further validation of these results in animal models may suggest a potential use for ASSNAC as a protective therapy in retinal degenerative diseases as well as in attenuation of oxidative stress-induced lens opacity.