Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) Protects Against Selenite-Induced Oxidative Stress in Experimental Cataractogenesis

Abstract

Cataract is the opacification in eye lens and leads to 50% of blindness worldwide. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anticataract potential of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn seeds (fenugreek) in selenite-induced in vitro and in vivo cataract. In vitro enucleated rat lenses were maintained in organ culture containing Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium (DMEM) alone or in addition with 100 microM selenite and served as the normal and control groups, respectively. For the test group, the medium was supplemented with selenite and T. foenum-graecum aqueous extract. The lenses were incubated for 24 h at 37 degrees C. After incubation, the lenses were processed for the estimation of reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde), and the antioxidant enzymes. In vivo selenite cataract was induced in 9-day-old rats by subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite (25 micromol/kg body weight). Animals in the test group were injected with different doses of aqueous extract of T. foenum-graecum 4 h before the selenite challenge. A fall in GSH and a rise in malondialdehyde levels were observed in control as compared to normal lenses. T. foenum-graecum significantly (P < 0.01) restored glutathione and decreased malondialdehyde levels. A significant restoration in the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (P < 0.01), catalase, (P < 0.01), glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.01), and glutathione-S-transferase (P < 0.01) was observed in the T. foenum-graecum supplemented group as compared to control. In vivo, none of the eyes was found with nuclear cataract in treated group as opposed to 72.5% in the control group. T. foenum-graecum protects against experimental cataract by virtue of its antioxidant properties. Further studies are warranted to explore its role in human cataract.

In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity of Seed Oil of Fenugreek Against Various Cancer Cell Lines

“…The seed oil of fenugreek was selected for this study, since fenugreek is commonly used as a spice in food preparations due to the strong flavour and aroma. The seeds are reported to have restorative and nutritive properties (Khosla et al, 1995), such as anti diabetic activity (Sharma et al, 1990), hepatoprotective activity (Thirunavukkarasu et al, 2003;Kaviarasan and Anuradha, 2007), and antioxidant properties against experimental cataract (Gupta et al, 2010). In recent research, fenugreek seeds were experimentally shown to protect against breast (Amin et al, 2005) and colon cancers (Raju et al, 2006).…”

“…Its utility has also been proved experimentally in diabetic humans (Sharma et al, 1990). Hepatoprotective properties of fenugreek seeds in experimental models (Thirunavukkarasu et al, 2003;Kaviarasan and Anuradha, 2007) and antioxidant properties of fenugreek seeds against experimental cataract (Gupta et al, 2010) were also reported. In recent research, fenugreek seeds were experimentally shown to protect against breast (Amin et al, 2005) and colon cancers (Raju et al, 2006).…”

Cataract: A major secondary diabetic complication

“…Several phytoconstituents from herbal origin may indirectly inhibits the consumption of glutathione or it can stimulate the glutathione synthesis which may be due to modulating effect on enzymes that affects glutathione level in lens architecture. In another study, it was found that Trigonella foenum-graceum can enhance the glutathione level due to inhibition of consumption of glutathione (Gupta et al, 2010). Several factors are involved in generation of cataract, but exact mechanism of cataract formation is still unknown.…”

A Review on Nutritional and Antioxidant Values, and Medicinal Properties of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

“…The extract reduced the enhanced activities of phospholipases A (PLA) and C (PLC) in liver and kidneys and serum marker enzymes: aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine tansaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). It was demonstrated that fenugreek protected against selenite-induced oxidative stress in experimental cataractogenesis in vitro and in vivo [16]. Furthermore, it significantly restored antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, GPx, and GST and non-enzymatic antioxidant: glutathione and decreased malondialdehyde levels in rats' lenses in culture medium supplemented with selenite together with fenugreek aqueous extract.…”