Protection against selenite cataract in rat lens by drevogenin D, a triterpenoid aglycone from Dregea volubilis.

Dregea volubilis is a woody climbing plant commonly found in the hotter parts of India. The leaves are edible and used as a green vegetable, while the plant extract has been used traditionally to treat several diseases including eye ailments. Drevogenin D is a triterpenoid aglycone that has been isolated, purified, and characterized as an active component from the leaves of D. volubilis. In this study, drevogenin D was evaluated for antioxidant and potential anticataractogenic activity in an in vitro model. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging activities of drevogenin D were studied and found to exhibit a 50% inhibitory concentration of 43 microg/mL and 200.6 microg/mL, respectively. Normal rat lenses cultured in 0.1 mM sodium selenite-supplemented medium were used as the experimental model for this study. Selenite-induced models are excellent mimics of oxidative stress induced cataract. Treatment with drevogenin D at a concentration of 50 microg/mL medium was found to reverse the level of activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, elevate the level of reduced glutathione and protein sulfhydryl, and lower the level of lipid peroxidation as indicated by the concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances. These results indicate good antioxidant activity and potential anticataractogenic activity for drevogenin D against selenite-induced cataractous changes, which have been reported for the first time.