Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of polyherbal formulation on cataract development in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, ip) and nicotinamide (90 mg/kg, ip). The diabetic rats were orally treated with polyherbal formulation (therapeutic dose, 28.71 mg/kg and 2×therapeutic dose, 57.42 mg/kg) and metformin (150 mg/kg), for 12 weeks. Serum glucose levels, body weight, histopathology of pancreas were used to evaluate the antidiabetic activity while the histopathological study of eye and protein content in lens were used to evaluate the protective effect of polyherbal formulation on cataract development. The progression of cataract in rat lens was observed with a slit-lamp biomicroscope. A daily treatment of polyherbal formulation for 12 weeks resulted in significant (p<0.05) decrease in serum glucose level, body weight and improved protein content in the lens. It also delayed the incidence of cataract in diabetic rats. The histopathological study showed that there was regeneration of pancreatic β-cells. The results observed with polyherbal formulation were found to be comparable to those obtained with metformin. Results suggested that the polyherbal formulation possessed antidiabetic activity and prevented cataract development.