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. 2022 Jan 17;8:815075. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.815075

Table 3.

Traditional Chinese medicines used for the treatment of the dry eye disease.

Scientific name Family Part used Form of extract Properties Reference
Bidens pilosa L. Asteraceae leaves water extract Alleviate the symptoms of dry eye (the BUT and tear quantity), downregulate the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α (151)
Buddleja officinalis Maxim. Scrophulariaceae flower buds ethanol extract Inhibit the apoptosis of lacrimal gland cells, promote the secretion of tears and maintain the stability of the tear film, downregulate apoptotic factors Bax and Fas (152, 153)
Chrysanthemum × morifolium Ramat Asteraceae flower buds total flavonoids Inhibit the apoptosis of lacrimal gland cells, promote the secretion of tears and maintain the stability of the tear film, downregulate apoptotic factors Bax and Fas (154, 155)
Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. Cornaceae fruits water extract Alleviate the symptoms of dry eye, increase tear secretion and promote anti-inflammatory effect, inhibit expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in conjunctiva and cornea (156)
Houttuynia cordata Thunb. Saururaceae cauline leaves water extract Improve the symptoms of dry eye (the BUT and tear quantity), suitable for mild-to-moderate MGD-related DED (157)
Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb.et Zucc. Polygonaceae root and rhizome polydatin, water extract Increase tear secretion, repair corneal damage, improve BUT, reduce goblet cell loss, inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NLRP3 (158160)
Prunella vulgaris L. Lamiaceae fruit-spike water extract Inhibit IL-1β, TNF-α and ICAM-1 in conjunctival epithelial cells, suitable for menopausal women with dry eye syndrome (161)
Hippophae rhamnoides L. Elaeagnaceae fruits and seeds oil extract Maintain the tear film osmolarity, promote tear secretion, inhibit inflammatory cytokines in the lacrimal gland (162164)
Prunus armeniaca L. Rosaceae seeds water extract Promote tear secretion, stabilize the ocular surface, increase the expression of mucin, suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α (165, 166)
Rhynchosia volubilis Lour. Fabaceae seeds ethanol extract Improve the symptoms of dry eye (the BUT), downregulate Bax (167)
Lycium barbarum L. Solanaceae fruits water extract Alleviate the symptoms of dry eye (the BUT and tear quantity), inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation (168170)
Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo Orchidaceae stems water extract, polysaccharides Alleviate the symptoms of dry eye in rats and inhibit the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α, upregulate AQP5 and MUC5AC in conjunctival cells (171173)