Alpha Lipoic Acid: A Potent Antioxidant in Treatment of Cataract

Opacity within the clear natural crystalline lens of eye, which gradually results in vision deterioration, is called as cataract. Causes of cataract formation are ageing, free radical generation, diabetes, denaturation protein due to oxidative stress. Antioxidants protect the eyes by reducing free radical damage. The existing study evaluated the in-vitro anti-cataract activity of α- lipoic acid against glucose induced caractogenesis using goat lenses. Clear isolated goat lenses are incubated in the manufactured aqueous humor and divided into six experimental groups. The α-lipoic acid at a dose of 15μg/ml, 30μg/ml, and 60μg/ml is incubated simultaneously with glucose (55mM) and glucose (5.5mM) for a span of 24 hrs. Ascorbic acid (40 μg /ml) is used as the standard drug. At the end of the incubation lens opacity is measured by photographic evaluation. The lipoic acid shows significant prevention of cataractogenesis of eye lenses by alpha lipoic acid at 60μg/ml