Effects of two antioxidants; α-lipoic acid and fisetin against diabetic cataract in mice

Int Ophthalmol. 2015 Feb;35(1):115-20. doi: 10.1007/s10792-014-0029-3. Epub 2014 Dec 9.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether α-lipoic acid and fisetin have protective effects against cataract in a streptozotocin-induced experimental cataract model. Twenty-eight male BALB/C mice were made diabetic by the intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (200 mg/kg). Three weeks after induction of diabetes, mice were divided randomly into 4 groups in which each group contained 7 mice; fisetin-treated group (group 1), α-lipoic acid-treated group (group 2), fisetin placebo group (group 3), α-lipoic acid placebo group (group 4). Fisetin and α-lipoic acid were administered intraperitoneally weekly for 5 weeks. Cataract development was assessed at the end of 8 weeks by slit lamp examination, and cataract formation was graded using a scale. All groups developed at least grade 1 cataract formation. In the fisetin-treated group, the cataract stages were significantly lower than in the placebo group (p = 0.02). In the α-lipoic acid-treated group, the cataract stages were lower than in the placebo group but it did not reach to a significant value. Both fisetin and α-lipoic acid had a protective effect on cataract development in a streptozotocin-induced experimental cataract model. The protective effect of fisetin appears as though more effective than α-lipoic acid.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Diabetic cataract; Experimental cataract; Fisetin; α-Lipoic acid.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Cataract / diagnosis
  • Cataract / etiology
  • Cataract / prevention & control*
  • Diabetes Complications / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Complications / etiology
  • Diabetes Complications / prevention & control*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental*
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Flavonoids / administration & dosage*
  • Flavonols
  • Lens, Crystalline / drug effects
  • Lens, Crystalline / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Thioctic Acid / administration & dosage*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Flavonoids
  • Flavonols
  • Thioctic Acid
  • fisetin