Preclinical evaluation of anticataract activity of Mentha spicata leaves on isolated goat lens by an in vitro model

Abstract

One of the major complications seen in patients with diabetes mellitus is cataract. Many medicinal plants have been used for preventing this major secondary complication. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the anticataract activity of the leaf extract of Mentha spicata extract (ME) on glucose-induced cataractogenesis on isolated goat lens. The freshly isolated goat lenses taken were divided into five experimental groups and incubated for 72 hours: 55 mM glucose alone (Group I), 100 μg/ml ME + 55 mM glucose (Group II), 300 μg/ ml ME + 55 mM glucose (Group III), 500 μg/ml ME + 55 mM glucose (Group IV), and 12 ng/ml Enalapril + 55 mM glucose (Group V), respectively. Various biochemical parameters such as total protein, H 2 O 2 , malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione, Cu 2+ -induced lipoprotein dienes, and enzymatic antioxidants like catalase and guaiacol peroxidase were measured in the lens homogenate after incubation. Complete opacity was observed in Group 1 which underwent glucose-induced cataractogenesis correlating with high levels of MDA, reduced amounts of total protein, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants compared to Group II. Due to the presence of ME in Group II, pre-oxidative damage to the lenses caused by glucose was prevented. Hence, it was seen that the leaf extract of M. spicata prevented glucose-induced oxidative damage in the lenses, which may help in delaying the onset of cataract.

Investigation of Anti-cataract Potential and Irritancy of Dicliptera paniculata in Diabetic-Cataract: An Ex Vivo and In Vitro Study

“…However, group II (toxic control) showed the highest opacity than the normal control. Group IV (standard), which was treated with the standard drug, showed no opacity or clear Lense, while group III (treated) showed good Lense clarity, which confirmed the efficacy of extract in reducing the opacity in glucose-induced (diabetic) cataract (Shreya et al, 2021) (Fig. 2).…”

“…The lenses were placed on a wired mesh with the posterior surface touching the mesh, and the mesh pattern was observed to measure the lens opacity. The degree of opacity was graded as mentioned in Table 2 (Shreya et al, 2021).…”