Abstract

ANTICATARACT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF FICUS RELIGIOSA (L.) LEAF ON IN VITRO GLUCOSE- INDUCED CATARACT IN GOAT LENS MODEL

Anagha V.*, Sumayya S., A. Arya, Suku J., Dr. Winson Sam

ABSTRACT

Cataracts are one of the largest causes of blindness and vision impairment globally. They occur when the natural lens of the eye becomes partially or totally cloudy. Lens is made of proteins. When proteins in the lens aggregate together, create opaque areas in the lens that limit the light from passing through them, leading to the development of a cataract. This degenerative condition can affect one or both eyes and is not contagious. The primary treatment method is cataract surgery. However, it has some kind of limitations, including post-operative inflammation, posterior capsular opacification, and intraocular lens dislocation. Hence, the objective of the present study is to discover a Non-surgical therapeutic agent for the prevention of cataractogenesis. The in vitro glucose-induced cataract goat lens model is used. The 55 mM glucose induces cataract in 72 hours of incubation and is treated with the ethanolic extract of F. religiosa (L.). The result suggests thatthe F. religiosa (L.) potentially prevents the onset and progress of glucose-induced cataract, and it is likely due to the antioxidant activity of the extract. The present study suggests the use of F. religiosa (L.) extract as a non-surgical therapeutic agent and warrants further in vivo studies followed by clinical trials to fully establish its efficacy and safety in ocular health care.

Keywords: Cataract, Ficus religiosa (L.), Goat lens, 55mM Glucose, Diabetic mellitus, Diabetic cataract.