Vasant Kusmakar Ras, an ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation prevents the development of diabetic retinopathy in rats

ABSTRACT

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a slow progressing complication of diabetes mellitus with multifactorial aetiology affecting approximately 80% of diabetics worldwide. Chronic hyperglycemic milieu ofDiabetes induces biochemical changes which contribute to the pathogenesis of Diabetic retinopathy.Objective: The present study examined the protective effect of Vasant Kusumakar Ras, an Ayurvedicherbo-mineral formulation, in diabetic retinopathy.Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45mg/kg). Rats were kept without any treatment for period of three weeks for induction of Diabeticretinopathy followed by treatment with Vasant Kusumakar Ras (11.25 mg/kg, p.o) for further 5 weeks.Fasting blood glucose levels, lipid profile and HbA1c were determined. Eye tissue homogenates weresubjected to biochemical analysis to determine the levels of oxidative stress parameters (superoxidedismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation), vascular endothelial growth factor andaldose reductase activity. Histopathological analysis of retinal tissue was conducted using Hematoxylinand Eosin staining.Results: Vasant Kusumakar Ras treatment restored serum lipid profile which was altered in diabetic rats.Treatment with Vasant Kusumakar Ras significantly ameliorated the oxidative stress in eye tissueresulting in decreased lipid peroxidation and increase in endogenous antioxidant levels. Levels of aldosereductase and vascular endothelial growth factor in eye tissue were significantly decreased in VasantKusumakar Ras treated rats. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining indicated that the Vasant Kusumakar Rastreatment significantly restored the normal architecture of the retinal tissue.Conclusion: Vasant Kusumakar Ras exhibits protective effect and prevents the development of Diabeticretinopathy through its effects on multiple biochemical pathways implicated in pathogenesis of Diabeticretinopathy.