Novel Approaches in Preventing and Treating Ocular Diseases

Using a rat lens organ-culture model, the authors investigated whether PM could inhibit AGE formation in the diabetic lens. They measured lens AGEs and relevant biochemical mediators including glutathione and the activities of aldose reductase and glyoxalase in normal and diabetic rat lenses. The results of this study showed that PM failed to block cataract development. However, PM treatment was able to prevent to some extent AGE formation probably by enhancing the activity of aldose reductase and reacting with precursors of AGEs.