Therapeutic Effects of <i>Dendrobium</i> Extract on Pathologic Lens Alterations in Diabetic Cataract Patients

Background Diabetic cataract, an ocular complication arising from diabetes, can lead to damage to ocular tissues, particularly affecting the lens and causing symptoms such as blurred vision. Objectives This work aimed to demonstrate the therapeutic effects of Dendrobium extract (DE) on pathogenic lens alterations in diabetic cataract patients and an ocular complication arising from diabetes, and to comprehensively assess its in vitro and clinical research outcomes. Materials and Methods Initially, a diabetic cataract cell model was established using high glucose (HG)-induced human lens epithelial cells (HLEB3). The cells were categorized into three groups: the untreated control (UC) group, the HG treatment group, and the HG+DE treatment group. Apoptosis status, reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 within the cells, were comparatively analyzed to evaluate the impact of DE on diabetic lens epithelial cells. Subsequently, a cohort of 60 diabetic cataract patients were recruited and randomly allocated into Group C (control group, 30 cases), which received conventional ophthalmic medications and blood glucose control, and Group E (experimental group, 30 cases), which received the DE intervention in addition to the Group C regimen. A comparative assessment of visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and cataract grading before and after treatment was conducted between the two groups to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of DE on patient lenses. Results In the in vitro study, the HG+DE group exhibited a drastically inferior apoptotic rate compared to the HG group (.05). The production of ROS in the HG+DE group was drastically inferior, and the SOD levels were markedly superior to those in the HG group ( p &lt; .05). The HG group and HG+DE group showed a greater decrease in Bcl-2 protein levels and a greater increase in Bax and caspase-3 protein levels versus the UC group ( p &lt; .05). Moreover, the HG+DE group displayed notably elevated Bcl-2 protein levels and greatly reduced Bax and caspase-3 protein levels versus the HG group ( p &lt; .05). The in vivo study demonstrated that Group E patients exhibited markedly improved visual acuity recovery versus Group C patients ( p &lt; .05), along with more stable IOP. The cataract grading of Group E patients was remarkably superior to that of Group C patients ( p &lt; .05). Conclusion DE may contribute to ameliorating ocular lesions in diabetic cataract patients, mitigating lens damage, and could potentially emerge as a promising therapeutic option.