Naturally occurring neuroprotectants in glaucoma

Prog Brain Res. 2020:257:119-140. doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.06.022. Epub 2020 Jul 22.

Abstract

With the increasing global burden of glaucoma-caused blindness there is a significant need to develop therapies that both enable early detection of retinal neurodegeneration, and help protect cells from the neurodegenerative processes of glaucoma. In this chapter, we discuss potential neuroprotective agents that are present naturally and examine their role and suitability as therapies in glaucoma. These agents have been found to have anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action which may aid the resilience of retinal ganglion cells and enable them to withstand potential insults that trigger cell death. We highlight how these properties could be translated into clinical practice and the barriers needing to be overcome in order to achieve this.

Keywords: Curcumin; Glaucoma; Natural; Neuroprotectants; Resveratrol; Ubiquinone.

MeSH terms

  • Blindness
  • Glaucoma*
  • Humans
  • Neuroprotective Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells

Substances

  • Neuroprotective Agents