Flavonoids and glaucoma: revisiting therapies from the past

Excerpt

Flavonoids are a large family of phytonutrient compounds found in various plants (berries, tea, citrus fruits) as well as in chocolate and red wine. More than 5000 flavonoid compounds are currently known, grouped into five main categories (flavonols, flavan-3-ols, flavones, flavanones, and anthocyanidins). Flavonoids constitute 25 % of the Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), processed from the leaves of one of the oldest living tree species, a “living fossil”, having survived since the Permian more than 250 million years ago. The Ginkgo biloba tree, which is found in the wild only in China, has been used for its therapeutic effects for more than 5000 years, both in China and worldwide. Today, the tree is cultivated across the world, and continues to be offered as alternative treatments for ailments associated with aging, such as neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive decline, vascular insufficiency and glaucoma, often with controversial results. Gingko biloba is the most common (50 %) herbal supplement used by elderly patients, often as an over-the-counter compound [1]. …