Polat, Heybet Kerem; Tunçel, Emre; Gözcü, Sefa; Turanlı, Yasin; Karakuyu, Nasıf Fatih; Ünal, Sedat

The aim of this review is to address the challenges faced by traditional dosage forms in ocular herbal drug delivery and to demonstrate the potential offered by nanotechnology to overcome related challenges. This study employed a systematic investigation approach, focusing on nanocarrier systems and advanced material-based strategies documented in the literature. Various nanoformulation systems, including in situ gels, liposomes, ethosomes, transfersomes, exosomes, polymeric and lipid-based nanoparticles, emulsions, nanofibers, and dendrimers, are extensively evaluated. The contribution of innovative nanomaterials, such as nanozymes and metallic and ceramic nanoparticles, to herbal drug delivery is assessed. Different herbal secondary metabolites with potential indications for ocular diseases are reviewed. The reported findings in the literature demonstrate that nanotechnology can enhance the solubility and stability of plant-derived active ingredients, enabling controlled release in target tissues and thus enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, safety, toxicity, and regulatory frameworks are scrutinized. In summary, this review highlights the opportunities offered by nanotechnology-based systems in herbal medicine applications and guides integrating of alternative herbal therapies with allopathic approaches in the future.

Ozbay, Ahmet Duhan; Somuncu, Ahmet Mehmet; Cicek, Ibrahim; Yavuzer, Bulent; Bulut, Seval; Huseynova, Gulbaniz; Tastan, Tugba Bal; Gulaboglu, Mine; Suleyman, Halis

This study aimed to investigate biochemically and histopathologically the protective effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) against potential hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-induced retinal damage in rats. Twenty-four male albino Wistar-type rats were randomly separated into four groups: healthy (HG), receiving HCQ (HQG), receiving ATP + HCQ (AHQ), and receiving CoQ10 + HCQ (CoQHQ). ATP (4 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was given to the AHQ, and CoQ10 (10 mg/kg, oral) to the CoQHQ. Rats in the HQG, AHQ, and CoQHQ were given HCQ (120 mg/kg, oral) 1 h after administering ATP and CoQ10. Treatments continued once a day for seven days. On the 8th day, the rats were sacrificed with 50 mg/kg sodium thiopental, and the eyes were removed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured in the retrieved eye tissues and retinal tissues were assessed histopathologically. An increase in MDA and IL-6 levels and a decrease in tGSH, SOD, and CAT levels were detected in the eye tissues of the HQGcompared to the HG. HCQ-induced changes in oxidant and antioxidant levels were significantly suppressed by ATP and CoQ10 treatment. ATP was more successful than CoQ10 in this inhibition. Severe damage was observed in the eye tissues of the HQG group, whereas the damage was mild in the AHQ and moderate in the CoQHQ. Although both ATP and CoQ10 have the potential to be effective in the prevention of HCQ-induced retinal damage through antioxidative activity, ATP appears to be the more preferable treatment approach.