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 mu M selenite/ml DMEM) and treated lenses were cultured in DMEM containing sodium selenite and the methanolic extract of OB leaves (200 mu g 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 alpha A-crystallin and beta B1-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 alpha A-crystallin and beta B1-crystallin gene and proteins in cultured selenite-challenged lenses. OB may be further evaluated as a promising agent for the prevention of cataract.