Bergenin alleviates Diabetic Retinopathy in STZ-induced rats.

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the key cause of blindness and visual impairment in diabetes patients around the world.The high levels of oxidative stress in diabetes patients cause diabetic retinopathy. In addition to being an antioxidant, Bergenin also works as an immunosuppressant, an anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic against hepatocarcinoma. This study examined the effects of Bergenin on diabetic retinopathy rats, using Streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally to induce diabetes in rats. The animals were divided into four groups (n = 6), including a normal control (Group I), diabetic control (Group II), Bergenin (25mg/kg) (Group III), and metformin (350mg/kg) (Group IV). As previously mentioned, each animal received treatment for 60days. To induce DR, rats were administered STZ (60mg/kg) intraperitoneally for 60days. Standard methods were utilized to measure the body weight of rats, blood glucose levels. We measured lipid profiles (Triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, and HDL), inflammatory markers, and antioxidant levels with their respective kits. Analysis of retinal tissue morphometry and MMP-9, VEGF, and MCP-1 levels in serum was performed. Our research examined the expression levels of target genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) using RT-PCRanalysis. STZ-induced animals that were treated with Bergenin had less food intake, lower blood glucose, and improved bodyweight. Bergenin significantly suppressed levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, cholesterol, TG, LDL, AI, MMP-9, VEGF, and MCP-1 and increased the level of HDL and antioxidant enzymes in STZ-induced DR rats. As well as increasing antioxidant levels, reducing retinal thickness, and increasing cell numbers, Bergenin also lessened DR remarkably. The results of this study demonstrated that Bergenin effectivelyinhibited STZ-induced DR in rats.