Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 05, 2026 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
Medical News: Persimmon Leaves and Glaucoma a New Scientific Link
Glaucoma is one of the world’s leading causes of irreversible blindness, mainly driven by increased pressure inside the eye. Scientists have long known that this pressure builds up when drainage tissues in the eye, known as the trabecular meshwork, become stiff and scarred. Now, new research suggests that an extract made from persimmon leaves may help slow or reduce this harmful process. This
Medical News report highlights how a natural plant extract interferes with key biological signals linked to glaucoma related eye damage.
Persimmon leaf compounds found to block key scarring signals linked to rising eye pressure in glaucoma.
Understanding the Hidden Cause of Eye Pressure
Inside the eye, fluid must drain smoothly to maintain healthy pressure. In glaucoma, excess buildup of structural proteins causes the drainage tissue to thicken and harden, making it harder for fluid to escape. The study focused on a fatty signaling molecule called lysophosphatidic acid, which strongly promotes scarring and cell movement in eye drainage cells. When this molecule is overactive, it triggers a cascade of signals that worsen tissue stiffness and eye pressure.
Why Persimmon Leaf Extract Matters
Researchers tested an ethanol-based extract from Diospyros kaki leaves, commonly known as persimmon. Among different preparations, a seventy percent ethanol extract showed the strongest protective effects. In laboratory grown human trabecular meshwork cells, this extract sharply reduced the production of fibrotic proteins such as fibronectin, alpha smooth muscle actin, and several types of collagen. These proteins are known to clog drainage channels and raise eye pressure.
Blocking Harmful Cell Movement and Scarring Signals
The study also showed that the extract slowed abnormal cell migration, another contributor to tissue blockage. Importantly, the persimmon leaf extract blocked the MAPK and AP 1 signaling pathway, a major molecular switch that turns on scarring genes. By dampening this pathway, the extract prevented multiple downstream changes that normally worsen glaucoma progression.
Animal Studies Strengthen the Findings
To confirm real world relevance, researchers tested the extract in mice with experimentally induced high eye pressure. Oral treatment reduced sustained eye pressure and protected retinal ganglion cells, which are critical for vision and are progressively lost in glaucoma. The protective effect was comparable to standard glaucoma medication in some measures.
Where the Research Was Conducted
The study was carried out by scientists from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, NovMetaPharma Co Ltd, Gangneung Wonju National University, and Catholic Kwandong University, Republic of Korea.
Conclusions and Future Outlook
The findings sugges
t that persimmon leaf extract targets glaucoma at its roots by reducing scarring, abnormal cell movement, and damaging pressure signals within the eye. While this is not yet a replacement for current treatments, it opens the door for plant-based therapies that work alongside existing drugs. Larger studies and human trials will be essential to confirm safety, dosage, and long-term benefits, but the results offer genuine hope for new glaucoma management strategies.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/3/1544
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