Source: Science Alert
Spinach is best known as a leafy green staple in many kitchens. But what if it could also help treat dry eyes?
A surprising new development in eye care is exploring spinach as a key ingredient in experimental eye drops that may help manage dry eye disease over time. Researchers are investigating whether compounds derived from the leafy green could support eye health and help protect against cellular damage linked to the condition.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore, including biomolecular engineer Xing Kuoran, developed the experimental treatment using light-activated structures extracted from spinach leaves. These plant-based photosynthetic components were introduced into lab-grown human eye cells and mice engineered to mimic dry eye disease.
When exposed to light, the nanoparticles produced NADPH, a molecule that helps cells defend themselves against oxidative stress and inflammation. Researchers say this process may help counter the cellular damage associated with dry eye disease.
The technology was named LEAF, short for “light-reaction enriched thylakoid NADPH-foundry.” While the findings remain in the early stages of research, scientists believe the approach could eventually lead to a new class of light-powered treatments for eye conditions.
This emerging approach to dry eye treatment combines plant science with modern medicine in an unusual but promising way. According to biomolecular engineer David Leong Tai Wei, the concept raises the possibility that human cells could one day possess a limited but beneficial form of photosynthetic ability—not only in the eye, but potentially in other parts of the body as well.
