The present study evaluated the in vitro anticataract and antioxidant activities of aqueous leaves extract of Achyranthes aspera Linn. against glucose-induced cataractogenesis using goat lenses. Transparent isolated goat lenes were incubated in artificial aqueous humor and divided into five experimental groups. The extracts at a dose of 100 μg/ml and 200 μg/ml were incubated simultaneously with glucose (55 mM) for a period of 72 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 glucose 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 glucose, which is evidenced from the improved antioxidant potential. The aqueous leaves extract of Achyranthes aspera protected the lens against glucose-induced oxidative damage which might be helpful in delaying the progression of cataract.
