Medicinal plants and natural products as neuroprotective agents in age-related macular degeneration
Isabel Martínez‐Solís, Francisco Bosch‐Morell, Victoria Villagrasa, T. Ortega, Nuria Acero, Dolores Muñoz‐Mingarro, M. Eugenia González‐Rosende, Encarna Castillo, MAmparo Sanahuja, Pilar Soriano
Abstract
The retina may suffer neurodegenerative damages, as other tissues of the central nervous system do, and serious eye diseases may develop. One of them is age-related macular degeneration, which causes progressive loss of vision due to retina degeneration. Treatment of age-related macular degeneration focuses on antioxidant agents and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor compounds, among others, that prevent/diminish oxidative stress and reduce neovascularisation respectively. The phytochemicals, medicinal plants and/or plant-diet supplements might be a useful adjunct in prevention or treatment of age-related macular degeneration owing to their antioxidant and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor properties. This review article presents the most investigated plants and natural products in relation to age-related macular degeneration, such as saffron, ginkgo, bilberry and blueberry, curcuma or turmeric, carotenoids, polyphenols, and vitamins C and E. This study provides up-to-date information on the effects, treatments, safety and efficiency of these phytotherapy products.