Rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Counteracts Diabetic Ophthalmopathy Progression in Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Diabetic ophthalmopathy (DO) impairs patients' eyesight and even causes blindness. Here, we investigated the effect of 60% ethanol extract of the rhizome of Anemarrhenae asphodeloides (ERA), which is commonly used in Chinese medicine formulae in treating diabetes, on DO progression. Blood glucose, insulin, advanced glycation end products (AGE), super oxygen dehydrogenises (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels in serum and sorbitol concentration in the lens were measured. Retinal endothelium/pericyte (E/P) ratio was evaluated, and structural changes of the retina and lens were observed. Effects of mangiferin and neomangiferin, the two major components of ERA, on subnormal growth of pericytes induced by high glucose were also detected. It was found that the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in serum were increased, whereas MDA and AGE levels in serum and sorbitol concentration in the lens were decreased in ERA-treated DO rats. E/P ratio was decreased, and the pathological changes of the lens and retina were alleviated by ERA treatment. Moreover, the subnormal growth of pericytes induced by high glucose was ameliorated by mangiferin and neomangiferin. These results indicated that ERA could effectively prevent DO progression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, and mangiferin and neomangiferin may be the main effective components.

Timosaponin A3 induces hepatotoxicity in rats through inducing oxidative stress and down-regulating bile acid transporters

“…Mangiferin is one of the active compounds in Anemarrhena asphodeloides 37,38 , and the amount in the herb is greater than that of TA3. In our study, 10 μg/mL (approximately 25 μmol/L) mangiferin completely restored the TA3-induced ROS generation and the ATP and LDH changes to normal levels in hepatocytes (Figure 5E and Figure S3B).…”

Molecular network-based analysis of Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction, a TCM herbal formula, for treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

“…Modern medical research has shown that Guizhi can retard the progression of diabetes by preventing a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity or suppressing the increase of methane dicarboxylic aldehyde [13] , Shaoyao can improve immune function [14] , and Zhimu asphodeloides counteracts the progression of diabetic ophthalmopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats [15] . As collected from the PubChem database, information on the drug targets of Guizhi, Shaoyao, and Zhimu are listed in Supplementary Tables 2-4.…”

Pharmacokinetics of mangiferin and its metabolite—norathyriol, Part 2: Influence of UGT, CYP450, P‐gp, and enterobacteria and the potential interaction in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae decoction with timosaponin B2 as the major contributor

“…Rhizoma Anemarrhenae (Zhi‐mu in Chinese) is a well‐known form of traditional Chinese medicine, which has enormous potential for the treatment of diabetes or diabetes‐induced syndromes as validated by animal models. Its bioactivity can be attributed to two structural types of active ingredients in this herb: xanthones ( e.g ., MGF) or saponins ( e.g ., timpsaponin B2 (TB‐2)) . Therefore, the potential DDI in the Zhi‐mu decoction and the combination of MGF and TB‐2, as well as some potential influential factors, were analyzed in this study in terms of the pharmacokinetics of MGF and NTR, in order to overcome the restricts of the poor bioavailability of MGF.…”