curcumin and Glaucoma

Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, is an optic neuropathy characterized by the progressive death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is recognized as the main risk factor. Despite effective IOP-lowering therapies, the disease progresses in a significant number of patients. Therefore, alternative IOP-independent strategies aiming at halting or delaying RGC degeneration is the current therapeutic challenge for glaucoma management. Here, we review the literature on the neuroprotective activities, and the underlying mechanisms, of natural compounds and dietary supplements in experimental and clinical glaucoma.

Topics: Amides; Biological Products; Colforsin; Curcumin; Cytidine Diphosphate Choline; Dietary Supplements; Ethanolamines; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Flavonoids; Ginkgo biloba; Glaucoma; Humans; Melatonin; Neuroprotective Agents; Palmitic Acids; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Resveratrol; Taurine; Tea; Ubiquinone; Vitamins

Curcumin, the major extraction of turmeric, has been widely used in many countries for centuries both as a spice and as a medicine. In the last decade, researchers have found the beneficial effects of curcumin on multiple disorders are due to its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative properties, as well as its novel function as an inhibitor of histone aectyltransferases. In this review, we summarize the recent progress made on studying the beneficial effects of curcumin on multiple retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Recent clinical trials on the effectiveness of phosphatidylcholine formulated curcumin in treating eye diseases have also shown promising results, making curcumin a potent therapeutic drug candidate for inflammatory and degenerative retinal and eye diseases.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Curcuma; Curcumin; Diabetic Retinopathy; Disease Models, Animal; Glaucoma; Humans; Inflammation; Macular Degeneration; Retinal Diseases; Retinitis Pigmentosa; Retinoblastoma; Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative

Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma is due to impairment of aqueous humor drainage via the uveoscleral or trabecular outflow pathway. Latanoprost reduces IOP by increasing the uveoscleral outflow. Despite its potency, long-term daily application of it may cause undesirable side effects and many require more than one medication for IOP control. Recent studies have suggested that oxidative stress in the trabecular meshwork (TM) play an important role in the pathogenesis of impaired trabecular outflow facility. Curcumin, a natural phenolic compound, possesses anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation properties. In this study, we developed a thermosensitive hydrogel containing latanoprost and curcumin-loaded nanoparticles (CUR-NPs), and evaluated its possible therapeutic effects with cultured human TM cells under oxidative stress. The results demonstrated that 20 μM of CUR-NPs might be the optimal concentration to treat TM cells without causing cytotoxicity. Using the newly developed system, both latanoprost and CUR-NPs displayed a sustained-release profile. Treatment with this hydrogel containing CUR-NPs effectively decreased the oxidative stress-mediated damage in TM cells via decreasing inflammation-related gene expression, mitochondrial reactive oxygen stress (ROS) production and apoptosis level. The in vivo biocompatibility revealed no signs of inflammation or damage after topical application of developed hydrogel in rabbits. These results suggest that this dual-drug delivery system might enhance both trabecular and uveoscleral outflow and is promising to develop into a novel treatment for glaucoma.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antihypertensive Agents; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Cells, Cultured; Chitosan; Curcumin; Drug Combinations; Drug Delivery Systems; Epithelium, Corneal; Gelatin; Glaucoma; Humans; Hydrogels; Hydrogen Peroxide; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Latanoprost; Mitochondria; Nanoparticles; Oxidative Stress; Particle Size; Rabbits; Reactive Oxygen Species; Temperature; Trabecular Meshwork

Glaucoma is closely linked with oxidative stress and inflammation, and difficult to treat. Its occurrence frequently is contributed by the failure of the trabecular meshwork (TM). Curcumin is known as an antioxidative and anti-inflammatory substance, possessing the potential to treat glaucoma.. Using TM cells as the in vitro model system, we investigated the effects of curcumin on oxidative stress-induced markers for TM impairments, including cell death, production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (iROS), induction of proinflammatory proteins, activation of senescence marker, accumulation of carbonylated proteins, and apoptotic cell numbers.. Curcumin treatment protected TM cells against oxidative stress-induced cell death. Curcumin treatment at concentrations between 1 and 20 μM reduced the production of iROS in H2O2-exposed TM cells in a dose-dependent manner. Further studies demonstrated that curcumin treatment (20 μM) significantly inhibited proinflammatory factors, including IL-6, ELAM-1, IL-1α, and IL-8, whereas it decreased activities of senescence marker SA-β-gal, and lowered levels of carbonylated proteins and apoptotic cell numbers.. Curcumin is capable of protecting TM cells against oxidative stress, shedding new light on potential treatment for glaucoma.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Apoptosis; Biomarkers; Cells, Cultured; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Glaucoma; Interleukin-6; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA; Swine; Trabecular Meshwork