Resveratrol for dry eye disease – Hope or Hype?

Abstract

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial and common ophthalmic disease that has a tremendous effect on the quality of life. It is now becoming a public health concern because of our changing lifestyle and environment. The current treatment modalities, artificial tear substitutes, and anti-inflammatory therapy are directed at dry eye symptoms. One of the major drivers for DED is oxidative stress, and the polyphenol group of natural compounds has the potential to reduce the same. Resveratrol, widely found in the skin of grapes and nuts, has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown to have beneficial effects in glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, uveitis, and diabetic retinopathy. Studies have also explored the beneficial effects of resveratrol in DED, making it as a promising therapeutic molecule. Resveratrol has not yet reached clinical application because of difficulty in deliverability and low bioavailability. In this review, we explore the potential of resveratrol in DED treatment based on various in vitro and in vivo studies.

Ameliorative effects of Tagetes erecta Linn. flower against desiccation stress-induced dry eye symptoms in the mice model

“…We assessed corneal epithelial detachment by H&E staining and the results are reported as number per 100 μm. 2 In the control group, DS significantly enhanced the detachment of corneal epithelium to 7.08-fold of normal (0.24 ± 0.09/100 μm 2 ). However, TE200 and CsA treatment caused a marked decrease in the DS-induced increase in corneal epithelial detachment to 52.42 % and 42.17 % of that in the control group ( Fig.…”

“…Scale bar, 50 μm. (D) The numbers of the detaching corneal epithelium per 100 μm 2 in five different sections are expressed as mean ± SD ( n = 5). a-c Bars with different letters are significantly different ( p < 0.05 by Tukey test).…”

“… 1 The current treatment modalities for DED are largely based on artificial tear substitutes and anti-inflammatory agents. 2 Artificial tears improve the signs and symptoms of aqueous-deficient DED and evaporative DED by replacing some of the aqueous tear fluid. 3 However, topical artificial tear substitutes only compensate for a proportion of the fluid lost on account of dry eye and need to be administered several times a day.…”

“…Several in vivo studies and clinical trials have demonstrated the protective effects of medicinal plants (such as Sargassum horneri, Vaccinium myrtillus Linn, Aristotelia chilensis) and phytochemicals, including fucoidan and resveratrol, against DED. 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 …”

Smart molecules in ophthalmology: Hydrogels as responsive systems for ophthalmic applications

“…[22] Although previous studies have highlighted the potential of RSV as a therapy for DED, its hydrophobicity and limited ocular bioavailability hinder it from being widely used in clinical settings. [46] The present study resolves these challenges by creating RSV-loaded PLGA-PEI nanoparticles that are immersed in Poloxamer 407 hydrogel. [22] The new gelling formulation not only prolongs the residence time of RSV in the cornea but also promotes the immune response.…”