Diosgenin, a Novel Aldose Reductase Inhibitor, Attenuates the Galactosemic Cataract in Rats

OBJECTIVE: To seek efficient aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) with excellent in vitro and in vivo biological activities against rat galactosemic cataract. METHODS: The method was firstly optimized to screen strong ARIs from nonoriented synthetic compounds and natural extracts. Then, diosgenin was assessed on osmotic expansion of primarily cultured lens epithelial cells (LECs) induced by galactose (50 mM). Diosgenin was administered to galactosemic rats by oral (100 and 200 mg/kg) or direct drinking (0.1%) to evaluate its anticataract effects. RESULTS: Diosgenin was found as the strongest ARI with IC(50) of 4.59 × 10(−6) mol/L. Diosgenin (10 μM) evidently inhibited the formation of tiny vacuoles and upregulation of AR mRNA in LECs. In vivo, diosgenin delayed lens opacification, inhibited the increase of ratio of lens weight to body weight, and decreased AR activity, galactitol level, and AR mRNA expression, especially in the diosgenin drinking (0.1%) group. CONCLUSIONS: Diosgenin was an efficient ARI, which not only significantly decreased the LECs' osmotic expansion in vitro but also markedly delayed progression of rat galactosemic cataract in vivo. Thus, diosgenin rich food can be recommended to diabetic subjects as dietary management to postpone the occurrence of sugar cataract, and diosgenin deserves further investigation for chronic diabetic complications.