antioxidant from cannabis, may help stop diabetic retinopathy

Filed in archive Studies , Treatment on February 28, 2006

The effect of diabetes on the patient's retina is a major threat to vision. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy.

High glucose levels resulting from unmanaged diabetes set in motion a cascade ultimately causing the oxygen-deprived retina to grow more blood vessels. Ironically, the leaky surplus of vessels can ultimately destroy vision.

A compound from marijuana, called cannabidiol, works as a consummate multi-tasker to protect the eye from growing a plethora of leaky blood vessels, so making the diabetic's eyes healthy.

The study headed by Dr. Gregory I. Liou, molecular biologist at the Medical College of Georgia is looking at cannabidiol as the antioxidant that could save the retina and hopes that this compound may in the future be administered together with insulin to stop the early changes that set the stage for damaged or destroyed vision in diabetic patients.

Read more at Medical College of Georgia.