The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (19): 3119-3128.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2025.19.024

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Research Progress on the Treatment of Corneal Neovascularization with Small Molecule Extracts of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Wujing QIU1,Huayao RUAN1,Ziwei YANG2,Yihua CHEN2,Yuhan LV2,Pei TANG3,Qianqian. ZHANG3()   

  1. *.The First Clinical Medical College of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University,Guangzhou 510006,Guangdong,ChinaCorrespongding author: ZHANG Qianqian E?mail: vinny223@126. com
  • Received:2025-06-05 Online:2025-10-10 Published:2025-10-10
  • Contact: Qianqian. ZHANG E-mail:vinny223@126.com

Abstract:

Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is a pathological condition characterized by the invasion of new blood vessels into the normally avascular corneal area from the corneal periphery, leading to severe vision loss and potentially blindness. Currently, surgical, physical, and pharmacological therapies are the main clinical approaches for treating CNV. Surgical treatment aims to remove abnormal vascular tissue or perform corneal transplantation to inhibit angiogenesis; however, it carries a risk of postoperative rejection. Physical therapy involves the direct application of non-invasive modalities, such as laser treatment, to the neovascularized area to suppress vascular growth. Nevertheless, this approach may cause damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Pharmacotherapy has recently become a research hotspot in CNV treatment due to its convenient administration. Clinically, the drugs used for CNV treatment mainly include anti-inflammatory agents, anti-VEGF drugs, and immunosuppressants, which inhibit CNV progression by targeting angiogenesis-related signaling pathways. However, these drugs often lead to drug resistance and toxic side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more effective and safer therapeutic agents for CNV. This article reviews the current clinical treatment status of CNV and highlights recent advances in the use of small molecule extracts from traditional Chinese medicine for CNV therapy, aiming to provide potential candidate drugs and a scientific theoretical basis for clinical management of CNV.

Key words: corneal neovascularization, small molecule extracts of traditional Chinese medicine, polyphenolic flavonoids, non-flavonoid polyphenols, terpenoids, alkaloids

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