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Dietary Agents in the Prevention of Cataractogenesis: Results from Preclinical Observations

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Plant-derived Bioactives

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Abstract

Cataract formation is one of the foremost reasons of blindness, especially in the elderly people. The process is shown to be hastened by aldose reductase (AR) enzyme involved in catalyzing the reduction of wide-ranging aldehydes to their corresponding alcohols. Gene mutations are connected to secondary cataract formation in the aged population. Further, the age-linked cataract formation is also due to the oxidative stresses. The scientific experiments conducted with preclinical models of studies have shown that dietary agents and phytochemicals are effective in reducing and mitigating cataractogenesis by acting as inhibitors of AR, preventing the depletion of antioxidant enzymes, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, and reducing oxidative stresses. This chapter addresses the helpful properties of phytochemicals in inhibiting AR. Also, the other mechanisms of action of phytochemicals in mitigating the cataract formation are highlighted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

    May D’souza & Sripathi Kamath

  2. Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

    Michael L. J. Pais & Mohammed Adnan

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

    Nimith D’souza

  4. Department of Biotechnology, East West First Grade College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    Mallappa Kumara Swamy

  5. Research Unit, Mangalore Institute of Oncology, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

    Manjeshwar Shrinath Baliga

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  1. May D’souza
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  2. Sripathi Kamath
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  4. Mohammed Adnan
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  6. Mallappa Kumara Swamy
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  1. Department of Biotechnology, East West First Grade College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    Mallappa Kumara Swamy

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D’souza, M. et al. (2020). Dietary Agents in the Prevention of Cataractogenesis: Results from Preclinical Observations. In: Swamy, M. (eds) Plant-derived Bioactives. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2361-8_12

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