Isolation, characterisation and in vitro screening of anticataract potential of Fucoidan from Sargassum wightii Greville

Introduction: The present study was designed to isolate Fucoidan from Sargassum wightii Greville and to evaluate its in-vitro anti cataract potential against galactose induced cataract in isolated goat lenses.Methods: Fucoidan was isolated from S. wightii Greville and its sulfate content was estimated through barium chloride method. Isolated goat lenses were divided into ۵ groups as group-I (normal control- vehicle treated), group-II (disease control- galactose treated ۵۵ mM), group-III (galactose ۵۵ mM + standard-ascorbic acid ۲۰ μg/mL), group-IV (galactose ۵۵ mM + Fucoidan-۲۰ μg/mL) and group-V (galactose ۵۵ mM + Fucoidan ۴۰ μg/mL) and incubated for ۷۲ hours, respectively, and subjected to biochemical estimations. The opacity of lenses was also noted prior to biochemical estimation.Results: The percentage yield of isolated Fucoidan was found to be ۰.۶۵%. The extent of sulfation in the isolated Fucoidan was found to be as high as ۳۳%. In high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) studies, Peak ۳ with Rf value of ۰.۱۸ matched with the standard D-glucose Rf value. Galactose induced cataractous lenses showed significant oxidative stress when compared to normal lenses whereas treatment with Fucoidan ۲۰ and ۴۰ μg/mL significantly combated oxidative stress and prevented the development of cataract when compared to cataractous lenses. The results obtained with the treatment of Fucoidan were dose dependant and comparable to standard.Conclusion: The present study substantiates the claim of anti-cataract potential of Fucoidan, which may be correlated to its anti-oxidant property.