Evidence from the Use of Herbal Medicines in the Management and Prevention of Common Eye Diseases

The fact that botanical compounds have been extensively used to cure various diseases and ailments throughout history is well known. Several of these compounds have been reported to be powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and antiapoptotic agents. Furthermore, these mechanisms have also been involved in ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and retinitis pigmentosa. Recent studies have demonstrated that several epidemiological and clinical studies have been performed that have shown the benefit of plant-derived compounds on these ocular pathologies, such as curcumin, lutein, zeaxanthin, ginseng, and many others in recent years. Cell cultures and animal models have shown promising results when these drugs have been used to treat eye diseases in the laboratory. It is important to note that although there appear to be many significant correlations between these botanical compounds, further investigation is necessary to determine their mechanistic pathways. This will facilitate widespread pharmaceutical application and the development of non-invasive alternatives for significant eye diseases to provide non-invasive solutions to those diseases.