Monotropein Reduces Retinal Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Dyslipidemia in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Retinopathy in Rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of visual problems and ultimately results in vision loss. Nearly 25% of diabetic patients have suffered from DR.Objectives: The present research has been designed to assess the salutary properties of monotropein against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DR in rats.Materials and Methods: The experimental rats were challenged with STZ, and after the initiation of diabetes, the animals were treated with monotropein for 60 days. An investigation was conducted to assess the glucose, food intake, and body weight levels of the experimental rats. The antioxidants, angiogenic protein levels, and inflammatory cytokines were assessed using assay kits. The apoptotic protein levels and lipid profiles were examined by kits. A morphometric analysis was performed on the retinal tissues.Results: The treatment of monotropein successfully reduced the glucose level, food consumption, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) while increasing the body weight of DR rats. The monotropein also enhanced antioxidant levels and significantly decreased inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic protein levels in the DR rats. The lipid profiles and proapoptotic protein levels were also decreased by the monotropein.Conclusion: The present research shows that monotropein successfully reduced dyslipidemia, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress in DR rats. These data demonstrate that monotropein has the potential to mitigate STZ-induced DR in rats.

Keywords: Microvascular complications; blood glucose; oxidative stress; angiogenesis; monotropein