Suryanaraya et al., 2004 investigated the beneficial role of amla extract in hyperglycemia induced complications. Aldose reductase (AR) has been a drug target because of its involvement in the development of secondary complications of hyperglycemia, including eye lens health. Amla extract inhibited rat lens AR and recombinant human AR with IC50 values of 0.72 and 0.88 mg/ml respectively.
In-house studies on β-glucogallin showed an IC50 value of 53.7 µg/ml for the inhibition of aldose reductase, in the rat lens.
Rao et al., 2005 reported the efficacy of amla extract in relieving oxidative stress, and improving glucose metabolism in diabetic rats. Yokozawa et al., 2007 demonstrated that administration of amla extract helps in the management of age-related renal dysfunction in animal models, through inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways. Renal dysfunction is a common secondary complication in diabetes.