title: Effect of a complex lutein formula in an animal model for light-induced retinal degeneration.
abstract: Several retinal degenerative diseases cause vision loss and retinal cell death. Currently, people face prolonged exposure to digital screens, rendering vision protection from light exposure a critical topic. In this study, we designed a complex lutein formula (CLF) by combining several natural compounds: Calendula officinalis, Lycium barbarum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Cassia obtusifolia, and Rhodiola rosea. In addition, we evaluated the protective effects of the formula on retinal functions in an animal model for light-induced retinal degeneration. We employed electroretinography to analyse retinal function, and conducted a histological examination of the morphological changes in the retina treated under various conditions. We revealed that the retinal function in animals exposed to light for 7 days decreased significantly; however, the retinal function of animals that had received the CLF exhibited superior performance, despite light exposure. In addition, a greater portion of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) (i.e. the nuclei of photoreceptors) in these animals was preserved compared with the animals that had not received the formula after 7 days of light exposure. These results revealed that our dietary CLF supplement attenuated retinal function loss resulting from long-term light exposure.
authors.affiliation: Center of Research and Development, Uni-President Biotech, Tainan 70955, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yin-Pin
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Hsinchuang, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chia-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.affiliation: Center of Research and Development, Uni-President Biotech, Tainan 70955, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chih-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Hsinchuang, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yih-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020838:Calendula; D002366:Cassia; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004596:Electroretinography; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects; D014975:Lutein / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D032305:Lycium; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029771:Rhodiola; D029800:Vaccinium myrtillus
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D010936:Plant Extracts; C073305:Vaccinium myrtillus extract; D014975:Lutein