Antioxidative and anticataractogenic effects of Annona muricata leaf extracts on sodium selenite-induced cataract in rat pups

Oxidative stress induces lens opacity. Extracts of Annona muricata Linn., also known as graviola or soursop, are known for their potential anti-oxidant and curative efficacy. This study focused on the antioxidative and anticataractogenic effects of methanol and aqueous leaf extracts of A. muricata on sodium selenite-induced cataract in rat pups. The study involved 55 Wistar suckling pups randomly split into 11 groups. Group 1 (normal control) received distilled water. The other groups received a single subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite (30 μmol/kg body weight) to induce oxidative stress in pups on life day 10. Additionally, Group 2 (test control, cataract-untreated) received distilled water, Group 3 (positive control) received vitamin C, Groups 4–7 received 100–250 mg/kg body weight of methanol extract, respectively, and Groups 8–11 received 100–250 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract, respectively, for 21 days. Compared to the test control, malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the treated groups, while glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly higher in the aqueous-extract groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in plasma catalase activity across the groups. The rat pups treated with ascorbic acid and both extracts revealed remarkable reduction in the cataractous state. The methanol and aqueous extracts of A. muricata demonstrated dose-dependent antioxidative and anticataractogenic effects on cataractous rat pups, which makes graviola a promising source of new anticataract drugs.