Puerarin inhibits the retinal pericyte apoptosis induced by advanced glycation end products in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting NADPH oxidase-related oxidative stress

► Puerarin inhibits the pericyte apoptosis induced by advanced glycation end products. ► Puerarin suppresses NADPH oxidase activity in pericytes. ► Puerarin inhibits the phosphorylation of p47phox and Rac1. ► Puerarin attenuates the pericyte apoptosis through blocking NF-κB activation.