Another Positive Effect of Diosmin − Influence on Oxidative Stress

Diosmin and its Effects

Diosmin is a flavonoid glycoside with a range of positive pharmacological effects. In vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimutagenic effects, as well as antiulcer and hypoglycemic actions. In clinical research and practice, it has proven effective as a venous drug, with its main indication today being the treatment of symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency. Diosmin reduces pain and swelling of the limbs in patients by promoting lymphatic drainage and microcirculation, increasing capillary resistance, vascular tone, and venous elasticity. By inhibiting the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, it reduces inflammatory manifestations and thus the release of free oxygen radicals.

Influence on Oxidative Stress

A study by Polish authors assessed the effect of diosmin on oxidative stress, which contributes to a number of diseases. The level of oxidative stress was evaluated based on plasma levels of isoprostanes in patients treated with diosmin for chronic venous insufficiency. Isoprostanes are products of non-enzymatic oxidation of arachidonic acid and are therefore significant markers of oxidative stress.

Study Progress and Results

The study involved 47 patients who began treatment with diosmin at a dose of 1200 mg per day. Before treatment, the median level of isoprostanes was 39.65 ± 42.1 pg/ml. After 3 months of treatment, it dropped to 23.97 ± 31.3 pg/ml, a statistically significant difference. A significant decrease was observed in 25 treated patients, a non-significant decrease in 12, an increase in 7, and 3 patients had abnormally high levels of isoprostanes, likely due to another condition associated with oxidative stress that appeared during treatment.

Among the studied group, 14 smokers were identified. The authors initially hypothesized that smokers would have higher levels of isoprostanes compared to non-smokers due to the oxidants in cigarette smoke and the inhibition of antioxidant enzymes by nicotine. However, no significant difference was observed at the start of the study, although the proportion of patients with extremely high levels of isoprostanes was higher among smokers (35.7% vs. 24.2%). The decrease in isoprostane levels was more pronounced in smokers after 3 months of diosmin treatment (from 42.96 to 7.74 pg/ml) than in non-smokers, where the change was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Despite the high variability in isoprostane levels, the study demonstrated the positive effect of diosmin in reducing oxidative stress. This effect was most pronounced in smokers.

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Source: Feldo M., Woźniak M., Wójciak-Kosior M. et al. Influence of diosmin treatment on the level of oxidative stress markers in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018; 2018: 2561705, doi: 10.1155/2018/2561705.