Abstract

CYPERUS ROTUNDUS AND CYAMOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBA DELAYS PROGRESSION OF DIABETIC CATARACT BY DOWNREGULATION OF ?LPHA A-CRYSTALLIN, ?LPHA B-CRYSTALLIN AND HSP70

Vijayalakshmi Krishnamoorthy* and Seema Surendran

Abstract

Cyperus rotundus L. has been used traditionally for treating fever, digestive system disorder and dysmenorrhea. Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub. has also been used for treating dyspepsia and anorexia. We aimed to study the efficiency of Cyperus rotundus and Cyamopsis tetragonoloba in delaying the progression of diabetic cataract. The experimental Wistar albino rats were grouped into: Group I - Normal (controls), Group II - Diabetic cataract induced animals (streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats that developed cataract), Group III - ethanolic extract of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba co-treated animals and Group IV - ethanolic extract of Cyperus rotundus co-treated animals (Group III and IV were treated for 19 weeks after streptozotocin induction). Histological examination of eyes confirmed the presence of cortical cataract with breakdown of cell membrane in diabetic rats. Histological changes were observed in organs such as pancreas, liver, kidney, spleen, but not in heart and brain of rats with diabetic cataract. The mRNA and protein expression of αA-crystallin, αB-crystallin and Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) was evaluated to know the mechanism of delayed cataractogenesis. Rats with diabetes-induced cataract showed upregulation of αA-crystallin, αB-crystallin and Hsp70; but the ethanolic extract of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba and Cyperus rotundus co-treated rats showed downregulated αAcrystallin, αB-crystallin and Hsp70 levels. Cyperus rotundus more significantly downregulated αA-crystallin, αB-crystallin and Hsp70 expression compared to Cyamopsis tetragonoloba. Thus, both Cyperus rotundus and Cyamopsis tetragonoloba exerted anti-cataract effect through downregulation of αA-crystallin, αB-crystallin and Hsp70. It may be attributed that treatment with both the plants delayed the cataract progression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Keywords: Diabetic cataract, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, Cyperus rotundus, ?A-crystallin, ?B-crystallin, Hsp70