Beneficial effects of saffron(Crocus sativus L.) in ocular pathologies, particularly neurodegenerative retinal diseases

Saffron(Crocus sativus L.)has been traditionally used in food preparation and as a medicinal plant.It currently has numerous therapeutic properties attributed to it,such as protection against ischemia,as well as anticonvulsant,antidepressant,anxiolytic,hypolipidemic,anti-atherogenic,anti-hypertensive,antidiabetic,and anti-cancer properties.In addition,saffron has remarkable beneficial properties,such as anti-apoptotic,anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities,due to its main metabolites,among which crocin and crocetin stand out.Furthermore,increasing evidence underwrites the possible neuroprotective role of the main bioactive saffron constituents in neurodegenerative diseases,such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases,both in experimental models and in clinical studies in patients.Currently,saffron supplementation is being tested for ocular neurodegenerative pathologies,such as diabetic retinopathy,retinitis pigmentosa,age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma,among others,and shows beneficial effects.The present article provides a comprehensive and up to date report of the investigations on the beneficial effects of saffron extracts on the main neurodegenerative ocular pathologies and other ocular diseases.This review showed that saffron extracts could be considered promising therapeutic agents to help in the treatment of ocular neurodegenerative diseases.

Retinal microglial activation in glaucoma:evolution over time in a unilateral ocular hypertension model

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative chronic pathology,characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells(RGC),which leads to an irreversible vision field loss.The increased intraocular pressure(IOP)constitutes its main risk factor.Nowadays,the main treatments for glaucoma are focused on decreasing IOP;nevertheless,the progression of the disease continues,despite IOP control.This fact shows the existence of other factors that could contribute to the advance of glaucomatous neurodegeneration.The early diagnostics,the use of neuroprotective therapies,and knowledge of the pathological processes are the major challenges associated with the management of this disease.Different pathogenic mechanisms have been proposed to be responsible for RGC death,including oxidative stress,mitochondrial dysfunction,glutamate excitotoxicity,and neuroinflammation(Casson et al.,2012).

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,a neurodegenerative motor neuron disease with retinal involvement

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a neurodegenerative disease that damages the motor neurons,the spinal cord,the cerebellum,and some areas of the brain.However,more recent studies show that it can also affect the visual system,for example,through oculomotor and visual p at hways.ALS patients do not usually complain of visual problems.