Evaluation of anticataract potential of Abutilon indicum: An in Vitro study

Cataract, a leading cause of blindness and poor vision, is a major public health problem worldwide. Diabetes and hyperglycemia have long been recognized as risk factors for cataract. Because there is sufficient evidence that oxidative stress plays a role in the mechanisms of cataractogenesis, there is an increasing interest in developing suitable antioxidant nutrients, both of synthetic and plant origin that could be effective in delaying or preventing the formation of cataracts. Large number of medicinal plants and synthetic compounds has been reported to possess anticataract properties. The present study evaluated the in vitro anticataract potential of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Abutilon indicum against glucose-induced cataractogenesis using goat lenses. The results showed a reduction in the opacity of the lens incubated with the plant extract. The biochemical parameters were studied for the lens group treated with the plant extract (500μg/ml) which showed highest reduction in malondialdehyde level, increase in the total protein content and SOD activities and reduced the lens opacity (formation of cataract by glucose), as evidence by the photographic evaluation. Hence, the study suggested that the hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of A. indicum possesses the anticataract activity.