Abstract
Purpose:
Prevention of decline in mental and physical functions in the older population has become an important public policy issue in the world. Sensory organs are particularly vulnerable to aging, so that many of eye diseases are closely related to aging. In the course of various studies, anti-oxidizing properties of polyphenol have been gaining medical attention as a preventive factor against aging and/or lifestyle diseases. Quercetin is one of polyphenolic compounds abundantly contained in onions and apples. Much evidence is available on quercetin as a functional food factor particularly for its prominent antioxidant activity among the various polyphenolic compounds. To clarify efficacy of antioxidant activity of quercetin in attenuating pathology of dry eye disease.
Methods:
Diabetic model mice were used as decreased tear production model mice. The 6 week-old mice were fed ad libitum with an experimental diet with 0.5% quercetin for 3 months. Total food intake, body weight, and tear volume were measured periodically. Blood biochemical tests and histopathological analysis were conducted upon euthanasia after 3 months of feeding.
Results:
As a result of feeding the experimental diet with 0.5% quercetin to the decreased tear production model mice, no changes in the body weight and food intake were observed; however, the decrease of tear volume in the diabetic mice was significantly recovered. Further, changes in the lacrimal gland morphology and the blood chemical values indicated improvements in the pathological features.
Conclusions:
Elucidating the association between the antioxidant effects of quercetin and tear secretion is crucial for preventing and/or treating dry eye disease, as it is assumed to be increasingly prevalent as well as lifestyle diseases.
Keywords: 486 cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye