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 | (158–160) |
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 | (162–164) |
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 | (168–170) |
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 | (171–173) |