Inhibition of Rat Lense Aldose Reductase by Flavonoids from Dandelions

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of naturally occurring aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors isolated from Korean native plants. The MeOH extract and stepwise polarity fractions of dandelions were tested on rat lens AR inhibition in vitro. Of these, the EtOAc fractions from the leaves of dandelions (Traxacum coreanum, T. officinale, and T. ohwianum) exhibited an AR inhibitory activity (IC∧50 values, 2.37, 1.73 and 2.68 ㎍/ml, respectively). A chromatography of the EtOAc fraction from the leaves of T. coreanum led to the further isolation of two flavonoids identified as luteolin and luteolin 7-O-glucopyranoside. These compounds exhibited strong AR inhibitory activity, with IC∧50 values of 0.15 and 1.05 μM, respectively. These results suggested that luteolin is a potent AR inhibitor within dandelions and that it could be a useful lead compound in the development of a novel AR inhibitory agent against diabetic complications.