Amrita Bindu therapy in diabetic retinopathy: effect on antioxidant defenses and the disease process

Abstract

Amrita Bindu is a salt-spice herbal mixture, evolved according to the Indian system of Medicine for the combating of degenerative and inflammatory changes during ageing and exposure to environmental stress. Amrita Bindu was administered as a diet supplement to 25 cases of non-insulin-dependent diabetes melli-tus (NIDDM) with mild or borderline retinopathy for a period of six months. An equal number of cases were followed up on conventional therapy alone. Age and sex matched non-diabetics provided the controls. Plasma, RBC and membrane lipid peroxidation and antioxidant levels are measured before and after Amrita Bindu administration. The patients with diabetic retinopathy were subjected to fundoscopic examination to asses the retinal lesions before and after the follow up period. 17 out of the 25 cases of Amrita Bindu therapy and 18 out of 25 in the conventional therapy groups were available for the study at the end of 6 months. & out of the 25 cases on Amrita Bindu therapy showed regression (disappearance of microaneurysms) while none in the other group showed regression. Amrita Bindu therapy led to a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation in plasma, RBCs and cell membrane and to an increase of the antioxidant levels in blood, confirming that this Indian medicinal formula is able to protect cell from antioxidant damage and the resultant tissue injury.