Bendazac prevents cyanate binding to soluble lens proteins and cyanate-induced phase-separation opacities in vitro: a possible mechanism by which bendazac could delay cataract.

The reaction of lens proteins with cyanate (carbamylation) causes many changes seen in human cataract including disruption of the protein conformations. Bendazac, a putative anti-cataract drug, decreases the binding of cyanate to lens proteins and prevents the cyanate-induced elevation of the phase separation temperature in incubated rat lenses. Its major metabolite, 5-hydroxybendazac, also inhibits the binding of cyanate to lens proteins even when it is present only during a pre-incubation period. The metabolite is more effective than the parent compound.