Evaluation of anticataract activity of syzygium cumini seeds

The present investigation was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different extracts of Syzygium cumini seed powder against glucose induced cataract in goat and chick lens. In this in vitro study goat lenses and chick lenses were subjected to photographic evaluation and goat lenses were subjected to biochemical parameters such as total proteins, water soluble proteins, Malondialdehyde, glutathione and total ATPases and catalase levels. Photographic examination of the eyes showed that treatment with different extracts of Syzygium cumini seed powder retarded the progression of lens opacification. The total proteins, water soluble proteins and total ATPases activity is increased in the extract treated lenses when compared with the standard drug. The catalase activity of the extract treated groups is increased when compared with the standard drug. The MDA levels were significantly lower in the lenses treated with the Syzygium cumini seed extracts. The glutathione levels in high glucose (55mM), compared to the normal control group was significantly low but Syzygium cumini treated groups showed higher levels of glutathione. These results support the view that ethanolic, petroleum ether and aqueous extract of seed Syzygium cumini as seen in the in vitro model may counteracts the effects of glucose in inducing cataract to some extent.