Spinach Eye Drops Show Promise for Common Condition

Scientists in Singapore are using sunlight to help people with dry eye syndrome. This condition affects over a billion people worldwide.

The team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) studied how plants use light to live. They took special parts from spinach leaves and tested them on lab-grown human eye cells and eye cells from mice with dry eye symptoms.

The tests showed that when these eye cells received light, they created a chemical called NADPH. This chemical helps protect cells from damage. It can lower inflammation, which makes dry eyes feel better.

The researchers named their technique LEAF, which stands for light-reaction enriched thylakoid NADPH-foundry. The treatment uses spinach, which is cheap and easy to get. They found that in just 30 minutes, the treatment reduced harmful chemicals by 95% in tear samples from dry eye patients.

Next, the researchers want to test this treatment in humans. They also hope to see if it can help with other health problems caused by inflammation.

How much do you know?

What condition are scientists in Singapore trying to help with sunlight?

Dry eye syndrome

Diabetes

Arthritis

Heart disease

What university is the research team from?

National University of Singapore

Stanford University

Harvard University

University of Cambridge

What chemical do the eye cells produce when exposed to light?

NADPH

Vitamin D

Insulin

Glucose

What does the acronym LEAF stand for?

Light-exposed animal flora

Light-reaction enriched thylakoid NADPH-foundry

Light-energy activated function

Light-enhanced antioxidant formula

Which plant's parts are used in the treatment?

Spinach

Kale

Lettuce

Cabbage

By what percentage did the treatment reduce harmful chemicals in tear samples?

90%

85%

95%

80%

The treatment uses expensive and hard-to-find materials.

True False

The study involved testing lab-grown human eye cells.

True False

Researchers are only testing the method on mice.

True False

The treatment aims to help with health problems caused by inflammation.

True False

Scientists in Singapore have completed human trials for the treatment.

True False

The condition affects over a billion people worldwide.

True False

Scientists in Singapore are using sunlight to help people with dry eye syndrome, which affects over a billion people .

The technique developed by researchers is known as .

When eye cells received light, they created a chemical called .

The research team tested parts from spinach leaves on lab-grown human eye cells and eye cells from .

The treatment reduced harmful chemicals by 95% in tear samples from dry eye .

Next, researchers want to test this treatment in .

This question is required