Study on the Effect of Berberis dictyophlla Cortex on Diabetic Retinopathy and the Mechanism

Abstract:

Objective: To evaluate the hypoglycemiceffect of extract from Tibetan medicine Berberis dictyophlla Cortex on postprandial blood glucose (PBG), protection against oxidative stress, protection function on blood vessels in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin(STZ)and to explore the mechanism. Method: The type 2 diabetic rat model was established by ip injection of STZ (40 mg·kg^-1) on SD rats and the rats were fed with high sugar and high fat for 5 months.Then, the rats were divided into 8 groups and administered. During the experiment, the body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured. After 30 days of administration, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide(NO), cell adhesion molecule(ICAM-1), angiotensin(ANGⅡ), and other blood biochemical indexes were measured. Result: The B. dictyophlla cortex could reduce significantly the level of fasting blood glucose,ICAM-1 and ANGⅡexpression. The retinas were taken and observed by histopathological analysis, the tissue injury attenuated compared with the model group. The contents of SOD in serum of group were higher while MDA was lower than the model group. Conclusion: DR of B. dictyophlla cortex group was obviously better compared with the model group. The extract of B. dictyophlla cortex can improve effectively retinopathy of the rats, relieve the degree and development of DR and regulate function in the whole. All in all, Berberis Cortex showed the effect of prevention and therapy of DR.