Abstract

The cataractostatic activity of methanolic and ethylacetate extracts of Drynaria quercifolia tuber were evaluated here as a prospective treatment for lens cataracts. Glucose-induced cataract formed in isolated goat lenses in vitro was used as a model in this investigation. When tested with extracts, it was observed that the ethylacetate extracts of the tuber was able to inhibit cataractogenesis when the lenses were treated at a final concentration of 20 µg/ml. However, methanolic extract of the tuber showed a moderate anticataract activity at 80 µg/ml concentration. When justified quantitatively, the cataract formation was inhibited 51.61±9.68% by methanolic extract at 80 µg/ml. On the contrary, the ethylacetate extract could inhibit cataract formation by 62.37±15.24% at 20 µg/ml and 100.00±3.23% at 80 µg/ml. These data indicated that, the ethylacetate extract of Drynaria quercifolia tuber is a potent cataractostatic agent and may be able to prevent diabetic cataract.

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