title: Protective effects of Purendan superfine powder on retinal neuron apoptosis in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: This study sought to investigate the effects of Purendan superfine powder comprised of Momordica charantia, Radix Ginseng, and Radix Salviae Miltiorrhiae on neuronal apoptosis and expression of bcl-2, bax, and caspase-3, which are retinal apoptosis-associated factors in rats with diabetes mellitus induced by continuous intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The results showed that Purendan superfine powder could upregulate the expression of bcl-2 protein and mRNA, and downregulate the expression of bax and caspase-3 in the retina of diabetes mellitus rats. In addition, Purendan superfine powder was shown to reduce the number of apoptotic neurons. Our experimental findings indicate that Purendan superfine powder can inhibit neuronal apoptosis in the retina of diabetes mellitus rats and has protective effects on diabetic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chengde Medical College Affiliated Hospital, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chengde Medical College Affiliated Hospital, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiangyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chengde Medical College Affiliated Hospital, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chengde Medical College Affiliated Hospital, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Haibin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chengde Medical College Affiliated Hospital, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Donghua
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chengde Medical College Affiliated Hospital, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Tiemin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Purendan superfine powder; bax; bcl-2; caspase-3; cellular apoptosis; diabetic retinopathy