PREVENTIVE EFFECT OF CHYAVANPRASH AGAINST STEROID-INDUCED CATARACT INTHE DEVELOPING CHICK-EMBRYO

The anticataract potential of Chyavanprash, a popular herbal formulati on of India was investigated in hydrocortisone-induced cataract in the developing chick embryo. Aqueous extracts of Chyavanprash (3% and 10% ) were applied at 3, 10 and 20 h after hydrocortisone administration. The incidence of advanced opacity (stage 4 and 5) was 33% after treatm ent with 3% extract, and 16.5% after treatment with 10% extract, compa red with 96.6% in the control group. The aqueous extracts (3% and 10%) significantly prevented depletion of glutathione, Levels were 1.8 +/- 0.22 and 1.96 +/- 0.33 mu mol/g wet weight of lens, respectively comp ared with 1.06 +/- 0.073 in the control group. In conclusion Chyavanpr ash, which is widely used in India as an anti-aging formula, provides significant protection against HC-induced cataract in the developing c hick embryo. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.