Inhibition of aldose reductase from rat lenses by methanol extracts from Korean folk plants.

The inhibition of rat lens aldose reductase (AR) in vitro using methanol extracts from Korean folk plants was investigated. Among them, the extracts of Saussurea grandifolia and Rumex crispus showed highest inhibition of AR. IC50 values of the extracts from S. grandifolia and R. crispus were demonstrated 0.07 and 0.05 mg/ml, respectively. Korean folk plants such as S. grandifolia and R. crispus has a possibility of new natural resources for the inhibition of AR.