Anti cataract potential of phyllanthus niruri ingalactose induced cataractogenesis of rat

AIM: To evaluate anti cataract effect of phyllanthus niruri(PN) both in vitro and in vino galactose induced cataract. METHODS: Aqueous extract of PN was evaluated againstgalactose-induced cataract both in vitro and in vivo.Galactosaemic cataract was induced in rats by feeding 300g/Lgalactose diet. PN was administered orally at three-doselevels 75, 150 and 300mg/kg of body weight. Rat lenses weresubjected to osmotic stress in vitro by incorporating galactose(30mmol/L) in the culture medium. The effect of PN (720 and880ug/mL) on the glutathione (GSH) and polyols levels wasstudied. RESULTS: PN significantly delayed the onset andprogression of cataract in vivo. In addition to the delay inreaching various stages of development of cataract, stage IVdid not develop with lower doses till the completion ofexperimental period. Lenses treated with PN 880ug/mLconcentration showed higher levels of GSH and decreasedlevels of polyols in vitro.In vivo , 75mg/kg significantlydelayed the onset and progression of cataract as compared tocontrol. CONCLUSION: Phyllanthus niruri delays the process ofcataracto-genesis in the experimental models. However,further study is required to extrapolate the use in humanbeings for the prevention of cataract.