Loranthus regularis Ameliorates Neurodegenerative Factors in the Diabetic Rat Retina

Diabetic retinopathy remains a primary source of blindness with the growing pandemic diabetes. Numerous studies have shown that early neurodegeneration caused by elevated oxidative stress may initiate microvascular damage in diabetic retina during last few decades. A variety preventive and treatment strategies using phytochemicals possess high antioxidants great promise reducing diabetes-induced retinal damage. In this investigation, we employed an extract Loranthus regularis, traditional medicinal herb which is found to improve diabetes associated complications experimental studies. We orally treated STZ-induced rats L. regularis analyzed neurodegenerative factors retina. After treatments, used Western blotting techniques analyze protein content neurotrophic (NGF, BDNF, TrkB), apoptotic (cytochrome c, Bcl-2, Bax), phosphorylation AKT Additionally, ELISA methods measure contents BDNF activity Caspase-3 biochemical procedures determine levels glutathione lipid peroxidation (TBARS). Our findings show treatments resulted considerable increase decrease Furthermore, level Bcl-2 increased, while phosphor-AKT signaling improved. As result, protect against diabetic-induced neuronal increasing support apoptosis. Therefore, study suggests retinopathy, could be potential therapy option for preventing cell death.