Glabridin and gymnemic acid alleviates choroid structural change and choriocapillaris impairment in diabetic rat's eyes.

Abstract

Background: Small blood vessels in the eyes are more susceptible to injury, which can lead to complications. However, since diabetic retinopathy is often a serious clinical condition, most of this study focuses on the vascular system of the choroid. As part of this study, we looked at how gymnemic acid (from Gymnema sylvestre) and glabridin (from Glycyrrhiza glabra, or licorice) might help diabetic rats' choroid structural change and blood vessels.

Aim: To explore the effects of glabridin and gymnemic acid on the structural changes of the choroidal layer and choriocapillaris as well as the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cluster of differentiation (CD) 31 in diabetic rat's eye.

Methods: The male Wistar rats were separated into five groups: The control group (control), the diabetic group (DM), the diabetic rats treated with glabridin 40 mg/kg body weight (DM + GB), the diabetic rats treated with gymnemic acid 400 mg/kg body weight (DM + GM), and the diabetic rats treated with glyburide 4 mg/kg body weight (DM + GR).

Results: There was an increase in the thickness of both the choroid layer and the wall of the arteries in the DM. A decrease in vascularity and choroidal impairment was found in DM rats. After eight weeks of experimentation, the choroidal thickness increased, and the walls of choroid arteries. The choroidal thickness in the DM + GB was 15.69 ± 1.54 μm, DM + GM was 14.84 ± 1.31, and DM + GR groups was 16.45 ± 1.15 when compared with DM group (27.22 ± 2.05), the walls thickness of choroid arteries in the DM + GB was 10.23 ± 1.11, DM + GM was 10.41 ± 1.44, and DM + GR was 9.80 ± 1.78 when compared with DM group (16.35 ± 5.01), The expression of VEGF and CD31 was lower compared to the DM group.

Conclusion: In diabetic choroidopathy, hyperglycemia and inflammation cause damage to the neurovascular unit and blood-retinal barrier. Anti-VEGF treatments can slow or reverse the progression of the disease. According to current research findings, glabridin and gymnemic acid can reduce damage to the choroid, which is a factor that can sometimes result in vision loss.