Oral consumption of α-glucosyl-hesperidin could prevent lens hardening, which causes presbyopia

Abstract

Presbyopia is one of the most well-known diseases of the eye, predominantly affecting the adult population after 50 years’. Due to hardening of the lens and failure of accommodative change, patients lose the ability to focus on near objects. This eye symptom is reported to be an early symptom of age-related nuclear cataract, and we have previously reported that hesperetin treatment could delay the onset of nuclear cataractogenesis induced by sodium selenite. In this study, we examined whether oral intake of α-glucosyl-hesperidin (G-Hsd), which has greater water solubility than hesperetin, could delay the onset of presbyopia. G-Hsd treatment protected lens elasticity, upregulated the mRNA expression of anti-oxidative enzymes like glutathione reductase and thioredoxin reductase 1 in the plasma and lens, and prevented premature cataract symptoms in selenite-induced cataract rat lens. Thus, the anti-presbyopic effects of G-Hsd were attributed, at least in part, to its antioxidant effects. G-Hsd represents the first oral treatment agent with anti-presbyopia and/or anti-cataract properties.

New insights in presbyopia: impact of correction strategies

“… 77 The mechanism appears to be mediated through an affected distribution of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 feedback pathways that control lens intracellular pressure. 78 Although these data await replication in humans, the findings suggest that G-Hsd is a potential oral compound to prevent presbyopia and cataract formation. Similarly, Nagashima et al examined the effects orally administered resveratrol and two lactic acid bacteria (WB2000 and TJ515) have on rat lens stiffness.…”

Pharmacological treatment of presbyopia: A systematic review

“…30 Regarding to the report from Takahashi and colleagues, periocular warming, rises accommodation recovery and the blood flow to the ocular region, as well as improving parasympathetic responses in the ciliary muscle. 2 Yet, the data available on pharmacological treatment of presbyopia, indicates low quality of evidence. Furthermore, only few peer-reviewed studies are published and, majority of published studies are patented formulations that patent owners conducted those.…”

“…Nearly 100% of adults after the age of 50 suffer from presbyopia, an eye condition which is widespread. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Eyesight inability for focusing on near objects, headache and eyestrain are well-known symptoms of the presbyopia. 7 Presbyopia is unavoidable, irreparable and leads to enormous economic burden globally.…”

Review of Evidence for the Usage of Antioxidants for Eye Aging

“…For example, a decrease in reduced antioxidant levels in the lens may promote the onset of presbyopia [ 91 ]. Hesperidin, a major flavonoid in citrus fruits and a natural antioxidant, was found to reduce the number of apoptotic cells, prevent premature cataract symptoms, maintain lens elasticity, and upregulate the mRNA expression of antioxidative enzymes in the selenite-induced cataract rat plasma and lens, hence delaying the formation of nuclear cataract [ 92 ] as well as the onset of presbyopia [ 93 ]. The challenges of such trials examining antioxidant effects include the influences of diet, environment, and various other patient characteristics, which are difficult to standardize.…”

“…For example, a decrease in reduced antioxidant levels in the lens may promote the onset of presbyopia [91]. Hesperidin, a major flavonoid in citrus fruits and a natural antioxidant, was found to reduce the number of apoptotic cells, prevent premature cataract symptoms, maintain lens elasticity, and upregulate the mRNA expression of antioxidative enzymes in the selenite-induced cataract rat plasma and lens, hence delaying the formation of nuclear cataract [92] 6…”