Zinc Complex In Diabetic Cataract Synthesized From Fresh Leaf Extract Of Hedychium Coronarium

Abstract

This study explores the synthesis and protective effects of a Zinc-Hedychium coronarium complex against diabetic cataract formation, utilizing fresh leaf extracts of Hedychium coronarium. The investigation employed goat eye lenses to create an in vitro model for cataractogenesis, wherein lenses were incubated in a hyperglycemic medium (55 mM glucose) to induce cataract development. The lenses were divided into three experimental groups: Group-I (control) was maintained in normal phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), Group-II (diabetic control) was subjected to hyperglycemic conditions, and Group-III was treated with the Zinc-Hedychium coronarium complex in the hyperglycemic medium. After 72 hrs of incubation, cataract severity was evaluated using a standardized grading scale. The results indicated that lenses in Group-II exhibited severe opacity with an average grading score of 3.8, reflecting significant cataract formation. In contrast, lenses treated with the Zinc-Hedychium coronarium complex in Group-III demonstrated a marked reduction in opacity, achieving an average score of 1.2, representing a 68% decrease in cataract severity compared to the diabetic control group. The observed protective effects are attributed to the antioxidant properties of the bioactive compounds in Hedychium coronarium, the stabilization of lens proteins by zinc, and the inhibition of aldose reductase activity, which collectively mitigate oxidative stress and osmotic damage. The characterization of the Zinc-Hedychium coronarium complex through spectroscopic techniques such as UV, FTIR, and ¹H-NMR confirmed its successful synthesis. This study underscores the potential of the Zinc-Hedychium coronarium complex as a therapeutic agent in preventing diabetic cataract formation, paving the way for future research into its mechanisms and clinical applications in ocular health management for diabetic patients.