IN-SILICO STUDIES AND ANTIOXIDANT EVALUATION OF BUCHHOLZIA CORIACEA PHYTOCHEMICALS TARGETING GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE (GST) AND GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE (GPX) IN THE MANAGEMENT OF RETINOPATHY IN STREPOZOTOCIN INDUCED WISTER RATS

This study investigates the antioxidant and therapeutic potential of Buchholzia coriacea phytochemicals in diabetic retinopathy, focusing on their modulation of antioxidant enzyme gene expression and molecular interactions. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that diabetes significantly downregulated the expression of key antioxidant enzymes, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), contributing to oxidative stress in retinal tissues. Treatment with B. coriacea extract, however, upregulated the expression of these enzymes, suggesting the plant's phytochemicals, including flavonoids, phenolics, and saponins, may activate transcriptional pathways that restore antioxidant defenses. In-silico molecular docking revealed that several B. coriacea compounds, including myricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin, exhibited strong binding affinities to the active sites of GST and GPx, indicating potential stabilization and enhanced enzymatic activity. Notably, some phytochemicals performed better than the reference drug metformin in stabilizing these enzymes. The combined in-vivo and in-silico findings provide compelling evidence that B. coriacea phytochemicals offer protective effects by upregulating antioxidant enzymes and stabilizing their activity, thereby mitigating oxidative damage in diabetic retinopathy. These results underscore the potential of B. coriacea as a promising adjunct or alternative therapeutic agent for managing diabetic retinopathy, supporting its ethnomedicinal use and reinforcing the growing interest in plant-derived antioxidants for diabetes-related complications.