Inhibitory effect of two Indian medicinal plants on aldose reductase of rat lens in vitro.

OBJECTIVE

To assesse the inhibitory effect of alcoholic extract of two Indian medicinal plants namely Ceasalpinia digyna Rottler and, Alangium lamarckii Thwaits on aldose reductase (AR) of rat lens.

METHODS

Rats lens were enucleated through posterior approach and their homogenate was prepared and centrifuged to obtain a clear supernatant for the determination of AR activity and protein content.

RESULTS

The alcoholic extract of Ceasalpinia digyna and Alangium lamarckii had a potent inhibitory effect on the lens AR enzyme. The IC(50) values of alcoholic extract of the selected plants were calculated and were (46.29±11.17) and (106.00±5.11) μg/mL, respectively. Quercetin was used as a positive control and its IC(50) value was (2.95±1.53) μg/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, it is concluded that alcoholic extracts of the selected plant exhibit significant inhibitory effects on AR in the rat lens in vitro.