Application of Natural Products in Retinal Disorders Therapy

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 907

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
Interests: neurodegeneration; retinitis pigmentosa; natural products; neuroprotection; anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds; diabetic retinopathy; in vitro and in vivo retinal models

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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
Interests: neurodegeneration; retinitis pigmentosa; nutraceuticals; neuroprotection; diabetic retinopathy; oxidative stress and retinal inflammation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Retinal disorders, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and inherited retinal dystrophies, represent a major cause of visual impairment worldwide and are characterised by progressive structural and functional alterations of the retina, ultimately resulting in photoreceptor dysfunction and vision loss. Despite significant advances in pharmacological interventions, current therapeutic options often remain limited by incomplete efficacy, adverse effects, or high costs. In this context, natural products have emerged as a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in retinal disease prevention and therapy.

This Special Issue, “Application of Natural Products in Retinal Disorders Therapy”, aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the use of natural compounds, plant extracts, marine-derived substances, and nutraceuticals for the management of retinal pathologies. Particular attention is given to compounds exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and neuroprotective properties, which are key mechanisms involved in retinal degeneration and dysfunction.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short communications that explore the effects of natural treatments on retinal structure and function. Particular emphasis is placed on studies investigating cellular and molecular mechanisms of action, including pathways involved in photoreceptor survival, retinal metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and microvascular alterations. Contributions addressing functional outcomes, innovative delivery systems, bioavailability, and combination strategies with conventional therapies are also encouraged.

By bringing together multidisciplinary contributions from physiological, pharmacological, and molecular approaches, this Special Issue aims to stimulate scientific discussion and foster the development of novel, safe, and effective therapeutic strategies for retinal disorders. Ultimately, the collected contributions seek to foster the development of safe, effective, and mechanism-based therapeutic strategies to slow retinal degeneration and improve visual function.

Dr. Francesca Corsi
Dr. Maria Claudia Gargini
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • natural products
  • retinal disorders
  • neuroprotection
  • oxidative stress
  • retinal inflammation
  • retinal neurodegeneration
  • nutraceuticals
  • in vitro and in vivo retinal models

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 2796 KB  
Article
Bromelain and Curcumin Oral Supplementation for Refractory Inherited Retinal Dystrophy-Related Macular Oedema: Changes in Macular Thickness and Visual Acuity over 12 Months
by Mattia D’Andrea, Carmen Dell’Aquila, Lucilla Barbano, Feliciana Menna, Antonio Di Renzo, Gaspare Colacino, Marco Marenco, Roberto Dell’Omo, Vincenzo Parisi and Lucia Ziccardi
Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(4), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19040602 - 9 Apr 2026
Viewed by 646
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the long-term effects on retinal structure and visual function of oral bromelain and curcumin supplementation in patients with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD) complicated by persistent cystoid macular oedema (CMO). Methods: We retrospectively studied 20 eyes with genetically confirmed [...] Read more.
Objectives: To evaluate the long-term effects on retinal structure and visual function of oral bromelain and curcumin supplementation in patients with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD) complicated by persistent cystoid macular oedema (CMO). Methods: We retrospectively studied 20 eyes with genetically confirmed IRD complicated by CMO, with refractory to systemic or local treatments performed for 6 months. We collected baseline (V1) and follow-up (V2) data from these IRD-CMO patients, who were continuously supplemented with oral bromelain and curcumin for 12 months. Outcome measures were the Snellen best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) values, collected by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Based on OCT scans, we classified IRD-CMO as microcystic or macrocystic, performing this sub-grouping in two eye cohorts (n = 10). Baseline median BCVA and CMT differences in both groups were verified (Mann–Whitney test). For both CMO groups, changes from V1 to V2 in median BCVA and CMT values were evaluated (Friedman test). Results: At baseline, both the median BCVA and CMT values were significantly different in both groups (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). Between V1 and V2, in the microcystic CMO group, a slightly improved median BCVA was found, whereas the median CMT was reduced; however, this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.6 and p = 0.2, respectively). In the macrocystic CMO group, a significant stable median BCVA was found from V1 to V2, with concomitant significant reduction in median CMT (p < 0.05 for both comparisons). Conclusions: Retinal structural improvement and visual function preservation were observed after oral bromelain and curcumin supplementation in macrocystic IRD-CMO. It is likely that the vasogenic component in macrocystic CMO is more responsive to nutraceutical molecules than the degenerative microcystic component. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Natural Products in Retinal Disorders Therapy)
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