salvianolic-acid-a and Cataract

Salvianolic acid A has been demonstrated to have efficient antioxidative and free radical scavenging effects. In the present experiments, the preventive effects of salvianolic acid A on galactose-induced cataract in rats were investigated. Dropping 0.05% salvianolic acid A in the eyes (two times a day) was found to delay the development of cataract. The contents of MDA and H2O2 in the cataract lens were decreased in salvianolic acid A treated rats. The protein and non-protein thiols in the cataract lens of the salvianolic acid A treated rats were higher than those of control rats. In in vitro experiments salvianolic acid A was shown to inhibit aldose reductase activity. These results indicate that salvianolic acid A can prevent galactose-induced cataract by antioxidation and inhibition of aldose reductase.

Topics: Aldehyde Reductase; Animals; Caffeic Acids; Cataract; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Female; Free Radical Scavengers; Galactose; Hydrogen Peroxide; Lactates; Lens, Crystalline; Male; Malondialdehyde; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley