Trapa bispinosa Roxb. and lutein ameliorate cataract in type 1 diabetic rats

Trapa bispinosa Roxb. is an annual aquatic grass of the citrus family. Although its hot water extract displays antioxidative activity in vitro, little is known about its biological effectiveness. In the present study, we evaluated the extract’s inhibitory effect on diabetic cataractogenesis and formation of advanced glycation end-product. Lutein, which is beneficial for eye diseases, was administered concurrently. For short-term administration, Trapa bispinosa Roxb. hot water extract and/or lutein were administered to type 1 diabetic rats. N(ɛ)-(carboxymethyl)lysine and N(ɛ)-(carboxyethyl)lysine were quantified in serum using mass spectrometry. The long-term administration study was similar to the short-term, except that the dosages were lower. In the short-term study, co-administration of the extract and lutein inhibited N(ɛ)-(carboxymethyl)lysine and N(ɛ)-(carboxyethyl)lysine in serum. However, in the long-term study, only lutein inhibited N(ɛ)-(carboxymethyl)lysine and N(ɛ)-(carboxyethyl)lysine in serum. These results suggest that lutein exerts its long-term effect regardless of the concentration administered, while the extract exerts its effect when its concentration is increased. Relative to the consumption of the control diet, oral intake of the combination of the extract and lutein significantly inhibited the progression of cataractogenesis in the lens of diabetic rats, even at low doses, and the combination was more effective than individual treatments.