Lactucaxanthin Regulates the Cascade of Retinal Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Inflammatory Signaling in Diabetic Rats.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the protective mechanism of lactucaxanthin against
retinal angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy.
Methods: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were orally gavaged with either lactucaxanthin or lutein
(n=12/group) for 8 weeks. Serum and retina collected from euthanized rats were subjected to assess
oxidative stress, ER stress and inflammatory response.
Results: Lactucaxanthin administration was found to lower oxidative stress markers (protein carbonyla�tion and lipid peroxidation) by augmenting antioxidant activity expression and ameliorated VEGF-A levels
in diabetic group. Likewise, it suppressed the expression of ER stress (ATF4, ATF6, and XBP1), and
inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-6, NF-κB, and ICAM-1) markers in diabetic retina. In addition, lactucaxanthin
improved glucose tolerance and lipid profile under diabetic condition and suppressed the crosstalk
between OS, ER stress, and inflammation.
Conclusion: Lactucaxanthin could be used as a promising therapeutic bioactive for treating DR condition,
and retinal angiogenesis.
Expert opinion: Limitation of the study includes the sample size and the duration of treatment. Despite
these limitations, this study has revealed the potential of lactucaxanthin in treating eye related diabetic
complications. To validate the results obtained from this study, clinical study must be performed to
understand the relative benefit of lactucaxanthin in DR treatment