Effect of the ethyl acetate extract of Sophora flavescens Aiton on diabetic retinopathy based on untargeted retinal metabolomics

•To evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects of SFE against streptozotocin-induced DR rats from multiple levels for the first time.•To study the distribution of flavonoids of Sophora flavescens Aiton in rat’s aqueous humor and retina by UHPLC-MS.•To explore the mechanism of SFE against on DR based on untargeted retinal metabolomics.•To elucidate the effects, material basis and treatment mechanism of SFE on DR systematically.