Protective Effect of Anoectochilus roxburghii Extract in Diabetic Cataract through Aldose Reductase Inhibitory Activity

. Aldose reductase (AR) is crucial for diabetic cataract through the intracellular polyol pathway. This work examines the impact of Anoectochilus roxburghii in association with the suppression of rat lens AR enzyme and the prospective anticataractous effect of A. roxburghii towards streptozotocin (STZ)-provoked cataract in diabetic rats. In vitro, A. roxburghii ethyl acetate extract suppressed rat lens Aldose reductase. In ex vivo lens organ cultures, plant extract also reduced hyperglycemia-stimulated rise in AR activity, opacifi-cation, and sorbitol deposition. Supplementing STZ-induced diabetic rat with an A. roxburghii ethyl acetate extract lowered blood glucose levels related to hyperglyaemia, suppressed AR activity, and slowed cataract development in a concentration-responsive manner. The chaperone function of a-crystallin extracted from diabetic animals fed A. roxburghii was greater than that of a-crystallin extracted from rats not exposed to A. roxburghii. In addition, the constituents of A. roxburghii leaf are capable of inhibiting AR in vitro and in vivo, thereby slowing the advancement of diabetic cataract.

Automated summary

This study found the potential anticataractous effect of Anoectochilus roxburghii on diabetic rats and its ability to suppress the activity of aldose reductase in the lens. Furthermore, it was found that Anoectochilus roxburghii can lower blood glucose levels, suppress aldose reductase activity, and slow down cataract development in diabetic rats.