Clinical observations and mechanistic insights of traditional Chinese medicine in the management of diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Context

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness among diabetic patients globally. Despite advancements in conventional treatments, the quest for more holistic approaches and fewer side effects persists. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries in managing various diseases, including diabetes and its complications.

Objective

This review evaluated the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of TCM in the management of DR, providing information on its potential integration with conventional treatment methods.

Methods

A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) with the search terms ‘traditional Chinese medicine’, ‘diabetic retinopathy’, ‘clinical efficacies’ and their combinations. Studies published before 2023 without language restriction were included, focusing on clinical trials and observational studies that assessed the effectiveness of TCM in DR treatment.

Results

The review synthesized evidence of empirical traditional Chinese formulas, traditional Chinese patent medicines, and isolated phytochemicals on DR treatment. The key mechanisms identified included the reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and neovascularization, as well as the improvement in neurovascular functionality and integrity of the retinal blood barrier.

Conclusions

TCM shows promising potential to manage DR. More large-scale, randomized controlled trials are recommended to validate these findings and facilitate the integration of TCM into mainstream DR treatment protocols.

Keywords:

• Chinese herb
• inflammation
• oxidative stress
• neovascularization
• blood-retinal barrier
• neuroprotection
• diabetic microvascular complication

Author contributions

The article was designed and performed by Xuansheng Ding, Wenhui Yao, Jie Chen and Yadong Ni. The manuscript was written by Jie Chen and Yadong Ni. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.