Effects of Some Natural Products on Sugar Cataract Studied with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Four commercial anticataract drugs and five flavonoids isolated from Chinese herbs were studied on their effects to inhibit sugar cataract formation in vitro using ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Pa-Wei-Di-Huan-Wan (PWDHW) and Zhang-Yan-Ming (ZYM) were effective in inhibiting sorbitol formation, whereas Bai-Nei-Ting (BNT) and Pearl Min-Mu-Ye (Pearl MMY) were ineffective in inhibiting sorbitol formation. Among five flavonoids tested, four were moderately effective in inhibiting sorbitol formation, and one was totally ineffective up to 1 × 10⁻M used.