Study: Korean starwort is an effective herbal supplement for patients with diabetic retinopathy

The extract of the Korean starwort (Aster koraiensis) was tested on diabetic rats for its purported ability to inhibit retinal vascular dysfunction associated with the disease. The new animal study showed that the herbal extract could protect the vulnerable blood vessels of the retinas from the degenerative effects of diabetes.

Researchers from the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine conducted the experiment on Korean aster extract. They published their findings in the scientific journal BMC Complementary and Alternate Medicine.

• Korean starwort is traditionally used as a medicinal herb. Today, its extract is used as a dietary supplement.
• Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) rats were treated with 50 and 100 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) body weight of starwort extract on a daily basis. The treatment lasted for 16 weeks.
• Treated and untreated rats were tested for the amount of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in their retinas, their blood sugar levels, and the leakage from the retinal blood vessels. SDT rats showed high blood sugar levels and retinal vascular leakage; the micro blood vessels in their retinas were breaking down via aptosis.
• Treatment with Korean aster extract was shown to protect the blood-retinal barrier from being affected by diabetes. It also preserved the levels of occludin, a tight junction protein that is vital to the blood vessels in the eyes.
• Furthermore, the aster extract reduced the degradation of retinal vascular cells by a large margin. It likewise lowered the amount of AGE that was accumulating in the retina.

The researchers suggest that Korean aster extract could be taken by patients with diabetic retinopathy in order to relieve the symptoms of the disorder.

The complete study can be found at this link.

Check out NaturalHealth.news for more information about beneficial herbal supplements.

Journal reference

Kim J, Jo K, Kim C-S, Kim JS. ASTER KORAIENSIS EXTRACT PREVENTS DIABETES-INDUCED RETINAL VASCULAR DYSFUNCTION IN SPONTANEOUSLY DIABETIC TORII RATS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017; 17:1, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1998-3