Egyptian Vegetables as Source for Lutein and its Role in Incidence of Cataract in Rats

The last years the interesting of eye diseases increases and the relationship intervention with nutrients and the common diseases as well cataract. The aim of this study focus on the concern of the effect of lutein on cataract. Therefore, this research was designed to study the use of certain species of vegetables (spinach, leek, parsley and watercress), the most popular and rich in lutein and its relationship to reduce the incidence of cataract. It could be concluded that there is a relationship between lutein consumption and decreasing the risk of cataract. We must eat the fresh vegetables rich in vitamins specially lutein. It could was found that watercress, spinach, parsley and leek provide high content of lutein (12.72, 11.87, 11.03 and 7.30 mg /100g), respectively. Moreover these vegetables could be purchased with low price and available throughout the year. It is noticed that 10 mg lutein daily was effective dose for the beneficial effects of lutein on cataract. Also, it is noticed that feeding on lutein diets increased the serum antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, GR, CAT and GSH) and reduced the proteases activities in rats lenses compared with cataract group and thus its role in reducing the incidence of cataract.