Effect of methanol leaf extract of <i>Duranta repens</i> on galactose and naphthalene-induced cataractogenesis in rats

Introduction: Duranta repens is often utilized in African traditional medicine to cure cataracts. This study used diabetic and senile cataract models to assess its possible effectiveness. Methods: For 28 days, experimental rats were given galactose (3000 mg/kg) and naphthalene (1 g/kg) respectively to cause diabetes and age-related cataracts. For galactose-induced cataract assay groups I, II, and III received galactose plus 50, 100, and 300 mg/kg extract, respectively. Group IV received galactose plus 10 mL/kg distilled water and group V 10 mL/kg distilled water. For the naphthalene-induced cataract assay, liquid paraffin (10 mL/kg) was given to group I and naphthalene (1 g/kg) to group II. Groups III, IV, and V were respectively given 50, 100, and 300 mg/kg extract plus 1 g/kg naphthalene. Vitamin E (50 mg/kg) plus 1 g/kg naphthalene was given to group VI. The treatments were administered orally for 28 days, eye examinations were performed using an ophthalmoscope. Glutathione (GSH) and bicinchoninic acid protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to measure GSH and total lens protein (TLP), respectively. Results: Rats given 50, 100, and 300 mg/kg of D. repens extract (DRE) had mean cataract scores of 0.00 ± 0.00, 2.30 ± 0.66, and 0.00 ± 0.00, respectively, significantly lower (P &lt; 0.0001) than the negative control group in galactose model cataracts. The DRE-treated groups in naphthalene-induced cases had dose-dependent reductions in the opacity index, with values of 3.15, 2.99, and 2.16 for 50, 100, and 300 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusion: Duranta repens leaves may prevent cataractogenesis, supporting its traditional applications as anti-cataract.