Natural products as alternative therapy for Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a major complication of diabetes mellitus. Early diagnosis newlineand prevention of retinopathy in diabetic individuals is crucial for preventing vision loss. newlineProlonged hyperglycemia causes irreversible pathological changes in the retina leading to DR. newlineTo prevent DR, measures such as controlling blood sugar levels, blood pressure, are taken newlinewhich will reduce its progression. The plants and/or their products that possess hypoglycemic newlineantioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are effective against diabetic retinopathy. newlineEvaluation of phytochemicals in the selected plants to counteract oxidative stress and newlineinflammation in treating diabetic retinopathy are investigated. newlineAimof the study is to investigate the therapeutic role of Adhatoda vasica bark, Cyperus newlineroutundus tubers, Terminalia arjunaleaves in diabetic retinopathy. To identify the newlinephytochemicals such as Flavanoids, phenols, Tanins, Terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, newlinephlobatannins in the plant extract, qualitative and quantitative tests were performed using newlinestandard methods.To quantify the presence of quercetin (as a reference) a flavonoid possess newlineantidiabetic, anti-inflammatory in in all the three plant extracts HPLC/ HPTLC (High newlinePerformance (Thin) Layer Chromatography) was carried. Free radicals mediate, amplify the newlineinflammation process such as vascular permeability and platelet aggregation. Radical newlinescavenging activity of the plant extract was performed with plant extracts and diabetic newlineheamolysate sample. In diabetes mellitus, the increased availability of glucose in retina leads to the newlineIncreased formationof sorbitol through the polyol pathway. Hence, in vitro studies on inhibitory effect newlineon aldose reductase (a key enzyme in the polyol pathway) activity by the Cyperus routundus tubers newlineextract on rat eye lens is carried out.Determination of cell viability by MTT Assay shows the newlineproliferative capacity of the plant extracts ofTerminalia arjuna and Adhatodavasicathrough newline