Reversal of diabetic retinopathy in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats using traditional Indian anti-diabetic plant,Azadirachta indica (L.).

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of oral feeding of water extract of fresh leaves ofAzadirachta indica (Fam:Meliaceae) in streptozotocin induced diabetes and its associated retinopathy in rats. Treatment of the diabetic rats with aqueous extract of leaves ofA. indica at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight for 16 weeks resulted in gradual but significant fall in blood glucose and improvement in serum total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol which increased in diabetic rats. It also showed improvement in body weight and reversed retinopathy.