A recent study reported multiple protective effects of AS-IV in an animal model of diabetic retinopathy, including reduced apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells, reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, inhibition of NF-κB and various cytokines which induce anti-inflammatory effects, and down-regulation of the enzyme aldose reductase (an enzyme involved in the polyol pathway) (Ding, et al., 2014). This evidence concerns the gene AKR1B1 and diabetic retinopathy.