Asian Botanical Fights Diabetic Cataract

HANOI, Vietnam—An aqueous extract of the Asian botanical Cleistocalyx operculatus exerts protective effects against induced cataract in diabetic animals, according to researchers from Vietnam’s National Institute of Nutrition (J Agric Food Chem. ePub 2010 Mar 15; DOI: 10.1021/jf904304w). The research team gave the extract of C. operculatus flower buds to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, and assessed insulin and blood sugar levels, as well as lens health. Supplementation stabilized insulin levels, preserved islet cells and significantly delayed diabetic cataract formation, while reducing levels of sugars in the rats’ lenses. The extract also exerted antihyperglycemic effects, reducing plasma glucose and HbA1c levels.