ABSTRACT
AIM: To evaluate anti cataract effect of phyllanthus niruri (PN) both in vitro and in vivo galactose induced cataract.METHODS: Aqueous extract of PN was evaluated against galactose-induced cataract both in vitro and in vivo. Galactosaemic cataract was induced in rats by feeding 300g/L galactose diet. PN was administered orally at three-dose levels 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg of body weight. Rat lenses were subjected to osmotic stress in vitro by incorporating galactose (30mmol/L) in the culture medium. The effect of PN (720 and 880μg/mL) on the glutathione (GSH) and polyols levels was studied.RESULTS: PN significantly delayed the onset and progression of cataract in vivo. In addition to the delay in reaching various stages of development of cataract, stage IV did not develop with lower doses till the completion of experimental period. Lenses treated with PN 880μg/mL concentration showed higher levels of GSH and decreased levels of polyols in vitro. In vivo, 75mg/kg significantly delayed the onset and progression of cataract as compared to control.CONCLUSION: PN delayed the process of cataracto-genesis in the experimental models. However, further study is required to extrapolate the use in human beings for the prevention of cataract.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To study the effect of exposure to high level of air pollution on ocular surface health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 520 subjects volunteered to participate in this study. All volunteers were required to give a detailed history and were subjected to ophthalmic examination under slit lamp, visual acuity test, tear film break-up time (BUT) and Schrimer's test. RESULTS: Significantly high number of subjects in study group complained of ophthalmic symptoms compared to control group. Sevent eight per cent subjects in the study group had symptoms such as redness, watering, irritation, strain or photophobia whereas this number was 45% in control group. Schirmer's test showed a significantly low value of 22.75±8.91 mm in study group as compared to 30.30±7.92 mm in control group (P<0.001). Average tear break-up time in study group was significantly low (P<0.05) with a value of 11.17±2.92 seconds compared to 12.13 ± 3.24 seconds in control group. CONCLUSION: Results of our study indicate that people traveling in highly polluted areas and exposed to high level of air pollutants are likely to suffer from significantly high incidence of subclinical ocular surface disorders.
