ABSTRACT
The present investigation was aimed to evaluate efficacy of ethanolic extract seeds of Nigella sativa against glucose induced cataract in goat eye lens. In the in vitro study, goat lenses were subjected to photographic evaluation and biochemical parameters such as protein, GSH, MDA, NA+/K+ ATPase and sodium and potassium were also analyzed. Photographic examination of the eyes showed that treatment with ethanolic extracts of seeds of N. sativa retarded the progression of lens opacification. Cataract lens treated with N. sativa elevated the activity of Na+ K+ ATPase, total and water soluble proteins and K+ ions to the level of normal level whereas reduced concentrations of Na+ ions. The MDA levels were significantly less in the N. sativa treated groups whereas, the level of GSH, in high glucose (55mM), compared to the normal control group was significantly low but N. sativa treated groups showed higher level of GSH. These results support the view that ethanolic extract of seeds of N. sativa as seen in this in vitro model may, counteracts the effects of glucose in inducing cataract to some extent.