articleJournal of Agricultural and Food ChemistryJan 6, 2026Closed access

AFG Ameliorates Diabetic Retinopathy through AMPK-Dependent Autolysosomal Pathway: From Network Pharmacology to In Vivo and In Vitro Validation

Jilin Agricultural University · Materials Development (United States) · +4 more institutions

PubMed
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Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight-threatening microvascular complication of diabetes. This study investigates the protective effects and mechanisms of arginyl-fructosyl-glucose (AFG) (a hypoglycemic component from red ginseng) against DR. Utilizing network pharmacology and experimental models (HFD/STZ-induced mice and high-glucose-stimulated retinal cells), we demonstrate that AFG alleviates retinal injury by activating AMPK-driven autolysosome biogenesis. This core mechanism inhibits VEGF-mediated vascular hyperpermeability to preserve the blood-retinal barrier while also promoting autophagic flux, reducing lysosomal membrane permeabilization, and ultimately curtailing apoptosis. Our research results…

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