An animal study has revealed the antioxidant properties of hawthorn tree leaves and how they may be used to fight cataracts.
Hawthorn leaf extract was dropped into the eyes of rats with selenite-induced oxidative stress. Researchers were able to measure significant increases in antioxidant levels in the eyes after the administration of the drops. According to study authors, “These results may be applied in the future for the prevention and treatment of cataracts.”
One of the leading causes of cataracts is the presence of free radicals. The natural byproducts of metabolism, these highly reactive chemicals cause oxidation, which in turn leads to the development of the opaque spot in the eye of a cataract.