Plant bioactive compounds alleviate photoinduced retinal damage and asthenopia: Mechanisms, synergies, and bioavailability.

The retina, an important tissue of the eye, is essential in visual transmission and sustaining adequate eyesight. However, oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions can harm retinal structure and function. Recent studies have demonstrated that exposure to light can induce oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions in retinal cells, thereby facilitating the progression of retinal damage–related diseases and asthenopia. Plant bioactive compounds such as anthocyanin, curcumin, resveratrol, lutein, zeaxanthin, epigallocatechin gallate, and quercetin are effective in alleviating retinal damage and asthenopia. Their strong oxidation resistance and unique chemical structure can prevent the retina from producing reactive oxygen species and regulating eye muscle relaxation, thus alleviating retinal damage and asthenopia. Additionally, the combination of these active ingredients produces a stronger antioxidant effect. Consequently, understanding the mechanism of retinal damage caused by light and the regulation mechanism of bioactive compounds can better protect the retina and reduce asthenopia. Light causes retinal damage and asthenopia through oxidative stress, inflammatory reaction, mitochondrial damage, apoptosis, and autophagy. Anthocyanin, curcumin, resveratrol, lutein, zeaxanthin, epigallocatechin gallate, and quercetin can exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms and prevent retinal light damage. In addition, this bioavailability and preventive effect can be improved by embedding bioactive compounds and synergistic effect of bioactive compounds. Abbreviation: ROS, reactive oxygen species. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]