Researchers studied how a plant called Coreopsis tinctoria (also known as plains coreopsis) might help protect the eyes of people with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that can cause vision loss and blindness in people with diabetes. Scientists used rats to test whether this plant could help by changing the bacteria in their digestive systems. They found that the plant appeared to change the types of bacteria in the gut and improved how the body processes certain fats, which may reduce eye damage. This research suggests a new way that traditional plants might work to protect our health through our gut bacteria.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether a plant called Coreopsis tinctoria could help treat diabetic retinopathy (eye damage from diabetes) by changing the bacteria in the gut
- Who participated: Laboratory rats that were given a high-fat diet and a chemical injection to create diabetes-like eye disease, similar to what happens in humans with diabetes
- Key finding: The plant changed the types and amounts of bacteria in the rats’ digestive systems and improved how their bodies handled certain fats, which may have helped protect their eyes from damage
- What it means for you: This early research suggests that treating gut bacteria with certain plants might be a new way to help protect eyes in people with diabetes, but much more research in humans is needed before this becomes a treatment option
The Research Details
Scientists created a rat model of diabetic eye disease by feeding rats a high-fat diet and injecting them with a chemical called streptozocin that damages the pancreas. They then gave some rats the Coreopsis tinctoria plant treatment while others did not receive it. The researchers used advanced laboratory techniques to examine the bacteria in the rats’ stool samples, analyzed the chemical compounds produced by these bacteria, and studied how fats were being processed in the rats’ bodies. They used computer programs to predict which inflammation-causing targets and pathways might be affected by the treatment.
This research approach is important because it explores a new idea called the ‘gut-eye axis’—the idea that bacteria in our digestive system can affect our eye health. By studying the actual bacteria and the chemicals they produce, scientists can understand exactly how a plant treatment might work, rather than just observing if it helps or not. This detailed understanding could lead to better treatments in the future.
This is early-stage laboratory research using animal models, which means the findings cannot be directly applied to humans yet. The study used scientific methods like genetic sequencing and metabolomics (studying chemical compounds) that are reliable for identifying what’s happening in the body. However, because this is rat research, human studies would be needed to confirm whether these results apply to people with diabetes.
What the Results Show
The Coreopsis tinctoria plant treatment changed the composition and amounts of bacteria living in the rats’ digestive systems. This change in gut bacteria appeared to affect how the rats’ bodies processed and managed certain types of fats, particularly compounds called glycerol phospholipids and sphingolipids. These fat-related changes are important because abnormal fat metabolism is linked to inflammation and eye damage in diabetic retinopathy. The researchers found that most of the chemical changes caused by the plant treatment involved these lipid (fat) compounds, suggesting that the plant works by helping the body handle fats better.
The bioinformatics analysis (computer predictions) suggested that the plant treatment might reduce inflammation in the eyes by affecting specific molecular targets and biological pathways involved in diabetic retinopathy. The changes in gut bacteria composition and the improvements in fat metabolism appeared to work together to potentially protect eye tissue from damage.
Previous studies have shown that Coreopsis tinctoria has traditional uses for treating red, swollen, and painful eyes. This research builds on that knowledge by explaining a possible mechanism—how the plant might actually work at a biological level. The ‘gut-eye axis’ concept is relatively new in research, and this study contributes to growing evidence that our digestive bacteria can influence eye health.
This study was conducted only in laboratory rats, not in humans, so the results cannot be directly applied to people yet. The abstract does not specify how many rats were used in the study. The research shows associations between the plant treatment and changes in bacteria and fat metabolism, but does not definitively prove that these changes directly caused the eye protection. Human clinical trials would be necessary to confirm whether this plant is safe and effective for treating diabetic retinopathy in people.
The Bottom Line
This research is too early-stage to recommend Coreopsis tinctoria as a treatment for diabetic retinopathy. People with diabetes should continue following their doctor’s advice for managing blood sugar and protecting their eyes. This plant might be studied further in human trials in the future, but it should not replace proven treatments like insulin, medications, or eye care procedures.
People with diabetes who are concerned about eye health should be aware of this emerging research direction. Researchers studying diabetes complications and traditional medicine should find this work interesting. However, people should not attempt to use this plant as a treatment without medical supervision, as it has not been proven safe or effective in humans.
This is very early research. If promising results continue in animal studies, it could take 5-10 years or more before human clinical trials begin, and several more years before any potential treatment becomes available to patients.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Users with diabetes could track their eye health symptoms (blurred vision, floaters, difficulty reading) weekly using a simple 1-10 scale, along with their blood sugar control metrics, to monitor overall diabetes management and discuss trends with their eye doctor
- Users should focus on proven diabetes management strategies: maintaining stable blood sugar levels, eating a balanced diet rich in fiber (which supports healthy gut bacteria), staying physically active, and attending regular eye exams—while staying informed about emerging research like this study
- Create a long-term health dashboard that tracks blood sugar control, eye health symptoms, and diet quality over months and years, allowing users to see how their overall diabetes management correlates with eye health and to share data with their healthcare providers
This research is preliminary laboratory work in rats and has not been tested in humans. It should not be used to guide treatment decisions for diabetic retinopathy. People with diabetes should continue following their doctor’s recommendations for managing blood sugar, protecting their eyes, and treating any eye complications. Do not use Coreopsis tinctoria or any herbal supplement to treat diabetic retinopathy without consulting your healthcare provider, as it may interact with medications or be ineffective. Regular eye exams and proven medical treatments remain the standard of care for diabetic eye disease.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.