Vasant Kusumakar Ras: A Multi-Target Ayurvedic Intervention for Diabetic Retinopathy

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🌿 Vasant Kusumakar Ras: A Multi-Target Ayurvedic Intervention for Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains one of the most devastating microvascular complications of diabetes, often leading to vision loss if left unchecked. Modern medicine has made advances in early detection and treatment, yet safe, holistic interventions that prevent the onset or progression of DR are still limited. In this context, Ayurveda offers a promising complementary approach. One such classical Ayurvedic formulation gaining scientific interest is Vasant Kusumakar Ras (VKR).

📜 Traditional Roots of VKR

Vasant Kusumakar Ras is an ancient Rasayana formulation documented in classical Ayurvedic texts such as Yogratnakar under Prameha Chikitsa (diabetes management). It is traditionally prescribed to rejuvenate the body, improve vitality, and manage complications of Madhumeha (diabetes).

VKR is composed of a blend of precious metal bhasmas (purified calcined ashes of gold, silver, tin, iron, mercury, mica, pearl, coral) and is fortified with herbal juices (bhavana dravyas) from medicinal plants like turmeric, banana rhizome, lotus, rose, and musk. These ingredients are believed to work synergistically to strengthen the Ojas (vital essence), enhance eye health (Netrayogya), and counter oxidative stress.

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🧪 Scientific Insights from Preclinical Studies

A recent experimental study using a rat model of diabetic retinopathy evaluated VKR for its potential role in preventing retinal damage due to chronic hyperglycemia.

Key findings include:

🔬 1. Retinal Protection Without Hypoglycemic Action

Despite not significantly lowering blood glucose or HbA1c levels, VKR-treated diabetic rats showed preserved retinal architecture compared to untreated controls. This suggests that VKR confers protection independent of blood sugar control.

💡 2. Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects

VKR significantly reduced oxidative stress markers in retinal tissue:

• Increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione

• Decreased lipid peroxidation (LPO)

This is vital as oxidative stress is a central mechanism in the development of diabetic retinopathy.

🩸 3. VEGF Suppression

VKR lowered retinal levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key mediator of abnormal blood vessel formation (neovascularization) seen in advanced diabetic retinopathy.

🧪 4. Aldose Reductase Inhibition

A significant reduction in aldose reductase activity was observed, indicating VKR’s role in modulating the polyol pathway, a mechanism implicated in retinal damage during diabetes.

🩺 5. Improved Lipid Profile

VKR improved systemic lipid metabolism by:

• Decreasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels

• Increasing HDL (good cholesterol)

These changes further contribute to its vascular protective effects.

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🔄 A Multi-Target Therapeutic Model

The observed benefits of VKR in diabetic retinopathy are likely due to its multi-pathway mechanism:

Pathological Target	VKR’s Action
Hyperglycemia	No direct effect
Oxidative stress	Antioxidant upregulation
Inflammation	VEGF suppression
Polyol pathway	Aldose reductase inhibition
Dyslipidemia	Lipid profile improvement

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🌟 Conclusion: Bridging Tradition and Science

Vasant Kusumakar Ras exemplifies the strength of Ayurveda’s Rasayana approach—working not just to treat symptoms but to restore systemic balance and resilience. The findings from preclinical models suggest VKR could serve as a complementary adjuvant in diabetic care, particularly in protecting against retinal complications.

However, controlled clinical trials are essential to validate its safety, efficacy, and potential integration into modern diabetic management protocols.

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Vasant Kusumakar Ras (VKR), as described in the provided study, is a classical Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation traditionally used for the management of diabetes and its complications, including diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, and hyperlipidemia.

🔍 Key Features of Vasant Kusumakar Ras (VKR):

1. Formulation & Ingredients

• VKR is prepared according to Ayurvedic texts like Yogratnakar – Prameha Chikitsa.

• It contains a blend of metallic Bhasmas (purified ashes of metals/minerals) and medicinal plant juices (Bhavana Dravyas).

• Core Bhasma Components:

  • Swarna Bhasma (Gold ash)

  • Rajat Bhasma (Silver ash)

  • Vanga Bhasma (Tin ash)

  • Loha Bhasma (Iron ash)

  • Abhrak Bhasma (Mica ash)

  • Parad Bhasma (Mercury ash)

  • Praval (Coral)

  • Mauktik (Pearl)

• Bhavana Dravyas (triturated with):

  • Cow milk

  • Ikshu Ras (Sugarcane juice)

  • Adhatoda vasica

  • Nelumbium speciosum (Lotus)

  • Salix tetrasperma

  • Curcuma longa (Turmeric)

  • Musa sapientum (Banana rhizome)

  • Rosa centifolia (Rose)

  • Jasminum grandiflorum (Malati)

  • Kasturi (Musk or its substitutes)

2. Traditional Properties (Ayurveda)

• Pramehgana – Anti-diabetic

• Ojovardhak – Immune enhancing

• Rasayana – Rejuvenator

• Medohara – Lipid lowering

• Netrayogya – Beneficial for eyes

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🧪 Scientific Findings from the Study (Rodent Model of Diabetic Retinopathy):

Despite not significantly lowering blood glucose or HbA1c, VKR showed multi-pathway protection against diabetic retinopathy:

✅ Biochemical Effects:

• Improved lipid profile: ↓ Cholesterol, ↓ Triglycerides, ↑ HDL

• Reduced oxidative stress: ↑ SOD, ↑ Catalase, ↑ Glutathione, ↓ Lipid peroxidation

• ↓ Aldose reductase activity: Inhibits the harmful polyol pathway

• ↓ VEGF levels: Reduces abnormal blood vessel formation

✅ Histological Effects:

• Restored retinal cell architecture

• Decreased vascular proliferation in the retina (linked to VEGF)

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📌 Conclusion:

Vasant Kusumakar Ras acts not through lowering blood sugar, but by:

• Modulating oxidative stress

• Suppressing angiogenic factors (VEGF)

• Inhibiting polyol pathway enzymes

• Improving lipid metabolism

Thus, VKR is a multi-target protective Ayurvedic agent, potentially useful as an adjuvant therapy for preventing diabetic complications, especially diabetic retinopathy.

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Vasant Kusmakar Ras, an ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation prevents the development of diabetic retinopathy in rats - PMC

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This study looked at whether an Ayurvedic medicine called Vasant Kusumakar Ras (VKR) could help prevent diabetic retinopathy—a serious eye problem caused by diabetes that can lead to blindness.

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What Did They Do?

• Diabetes was induced in rats using a chemical called streptozotocin, which damages insulin-producing cells, mimicking human diabetes.

• After 3 weeks, they started giving some diabetic rats Vasant Kusumakar Ras every day for 5 weeks.

• Then they checked:

  • Blood sugar and cholesterol

  • Eye damage

  • Levels of harmful chemicals and enzymes in the eye

  • Tissue samples from the eyes to see if there were signs of damage or healing

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What Did They Find?

1. Blood Sugar Not Affected
   Vasant Kusumakar Ras did not reduce blood sugar or HbA1c (a long-term sugar marker), so it’s not an anti-diabetic like insulin or metformin.

2. Improved Cholesterol Levels
   It helped reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides and increased good cholesterol.

3. Reduced Oxidative Stress in the Eyes
   In diabetes, the body produces too many harmful molecules (free radicals) that damage cells.

   • The treatment increased antioxidants (natural cell-protectors)

   • It reduced cell damage in the eye tissues

4. Blocked Harmful Enzymes
   It lowered levels of:

   • Aldose reductase – an enzyme that worsens eye damage in diabetes

   • VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) – a chemical that causes new, weak blood vessels to grow and leak, leading to vision loss

5. Helped Repair Eye Tissue
   Eye tissue under the microscope showed less damage, better cell structure, and less abnormal blood vessel growth, suggesting healing or protection.

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What Does This Mean for People?

Even though Vasant Kusumakar Ras didn't lower blood sugar, it still helped protect the eyes from diabetic damage by:

• Fighting oxidative stress (internal chemical damage)

• Preventing harmful blood vessel changes

• Reducing tissue inflammation and enzyme activity linked to eye damage

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Bottom Line (For Humans):

If you have diabetes, controlling blood sugar is still key. But Vasant Kusumakar Ras might help prevent eye damage (diabetic retinopathy) by protecting the eye tissues through other means—not by lowering sugar, but by reducing inflammation and oxidative damage. It might work as a supportive, preventive therapy alongside regular diabetes treatment.