Aldose reductase inhibitor
Aldose reductase inhibitors are a class of drugs being studied as a way to prevent eye and nerve damage in people with diabetes.
Mechanism
Their target,
neuropathy
.
Examples
![Ranirestat[1]](/File:Ranirestat.svg)
Natural sources reported to inhibit aldose reductase include
indian gooseberry, spinach, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, basil leaves, lemon, black pepper, orange, curry leaves, cannabis,[2] cinnamon[3] and lichen.[4][5] Luteolin, a type of flavonoid found mostly in leaves, and their synthetic derivatives are potential inhibitors of aldose reductase.[6]
Diabetic cataract
Diabetic
lens. The excess sugar within the lens is reduced by aldose reductase to its alcohol, but the lens capsule is relatively impermeable to sugar alcohols. Because of the excess sugar alcohol (polyol), the lens imbibes water, causing osmotic imbalance. Eventually, increased sodium and decreased potassium levels and decreased glutathione levels lead to cataract formation. Topical administration of aldose reductase inhibitors have been shown to prevent the cataract in rats.[7]
Asthma and COPD
This class of drugs is also under investigation as a possible root pathology modulating treatment for
COPD since it has been shown that they inhibit goblet cell metaplasia in the respiratory epithelium, thereby reducing the copious mucous secretion associated with these.[8]
References
- S2CID 13025417.
- PMID 29427593.
- PMID 19114390.
- S2CID 19749777.
- ^ Sebastian, Jomon; A, Prathapan; Sulochana, Priya; KG, Raghu (2014-08-01). "Kinetic and docking studies reveal aldose reductase inhibition potential of edible lichen Parmotrema tinctorum". The Pharma Innovation Journal. 3 (6).
- PMID 27396410.
- ^ Newell FW (1982). Ophthalmology: Principles and Concepts (Fifth ed.). London: The CV Mosby Company. p. 332.
- PMID 21203431.