Objective: To observe the different effects of water soluble extracts from Cassia obtusifolia and processed C. obtusifolia on anti-oxidation and vasodilatation, and to explore the mechanism of eye-clearing effect.
Method: Mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group, C. obtusifolia group and processed C. obtusifolia group. Ten male and 10 female mice were in each group. mice were given extracts orally 10 g (20 mL) crude drug/kg for one month, control group were given same volume water. Then the eyeball tissue was harvested to prepare homogenate to test SOD, MDA, LDH and NO. Blood was collected from posterior orbital venous plexus to test ET.
Result: Both two kinds of extracts could raise the activity of SOD and LDH, decrease the MDA level. Extracts from C. obtusifolia showed higher effects on above mentioned action. Both two kinds of extracts increased the ratio value of NO/ET significantly, and extracts from processed C. obtusifolia showed higher activity.
Conclusion: Both C. obtusifolia and processed C. obtusifolia extracts show obvious anti-oxidation and vasodilatation effects. These results may support the eye-clearing activity of C. obtusifolia.