Is it possible to prevent the experimental diabetic retinopathy through the use of the cacao? Evaluation of antioxidant mechanisms and the bioavailability of nitric oxide

• Grant number: 10/20471-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: February 01, 2011
• End date: October 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Jose Butori Lopes de Faria
• Grantee: Diego Andreazzi Duarte
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/57560-0 - Effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis), cocoa and nitric oxide donor on diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy: contribution of the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation and elevation of nitric oxide, AP.TEM

Abstract

The DM is the systemic illness that more cause blindness and the diabetic retinopathy (RD) is the main cause of blindness acquired in adults in productive age in the developed countries. Currently the diabetic retinopathy (RD) is understood as a gradual degenerative neuronal illness followed by extensive vascular alterations. Can be present in Mellitus Diabetes (DM) type 1 and type 2 of the illness. The arterial hypertension (HA) is an important factor of risk associated with the development of the RD. Until the moment it does not have no efficient pharmacologic agent capable to prevent, to be late or to revert the available RD and interventionist treatments they are invasive. It stresses knowing it oxidative as a way capable to explain pathogeneses of the RD caused for the hyperglycemia, has been observed the great performance of synthetic and Phytotherapy antirust substances in experimental models in alive and in vitro. Amongst them, currently it has a great interest for the cacao, rich in catechins polyphenols and its procianidine oligomers that present great hypotensive, regulating activity in the homeostasis of the bioavailability of nitric oxide and more recently antirust. Ophthalmological studies had demonstrated the effectiveness of one of its constituent, proanthocyanidins, in the inhibition of the formation of cataract associated with the DM. The objective of this project will be to test if the administration of the cacao in diabetic rats improves the diabetic retinopathy and to identify in vitro the involved molecular mechanisms in the protection of the retina with the cacao. This is the first study to investigate the possible beneficial effect after polyphenols gifts in the cacao in the treatment of the diabetic retinopathy. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

DUARTE, Diego Andreazzi. Participation of sirtuin on diabetic retinopathy: mechanisms of regulation of the neurodegeneration. 2014. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas Campinas, SP.