The present study evaluated the in vitro anticataract and antioxidant activities of aqueous leaves extract of Achyranthes aspera Linn. against calcium-induced cataractogenesis using goat lenses. Transparent isolated goat lenes were incubated in artificial aqueous humor and divided into seven experimental groups. The extracts at a dose of 100 μg/ml and 200 μg/ml were incubated simultaneously with calcium (10 mM) for a period of 16 h. Vitamin E (100 μg/ml) was used as the standard drug. At the end of the incubation, levels of various biochemical parameters such as protein content, malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid hydroperoxides (LH), Cu2+-induced lipoprotein diene formation, Ca2+ATPase and enzymatic antioxidants like catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSSH) and non-enzymatic antioxidant like reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in the lens homogenate. Incubation with calcium chloride produced a mature cataract and there was a significant increase in LH and MDA and a decrease in protein content, Ca2+ATPase, Cu2+-induced lipoprotein diene formation and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants when compared to normal control. Our results indicated that simultaneous incubation of the plant extracts prevented the preoxidative damage caused by calcium chloride, which is evidenced from the improved antioxidant potential. The aqueous leaves extract of Achyranthes aspera protected the lens against calcium-induced oxidative damage which might be helpful in delaying the progression of cataract.
