Topical Quercetin and Resveratrol Protect the Ocular Surface in Experimental Dry Eye Disease

Purpose: To determine the anti-inflammatory effect of quercetin (QCT), resveratrol (RES), and their combination in a dry eye disease (DED) model.

Methods: 0.01% QCT, 0.1% RES, 0.01% QCT + 0.1% RES (QCT + RES) or vehicle were topically applied in a desiccating stress (DS) mice model. CD4⁺ T cells isolated from DS-exposed mice were transferred to athymic recipient mice. Corneal fluorescein staining, tear production, and tear cytokine levels were evaluated in DS-exposed mice, and conjunctival CD4⁺ T cell infiltration was evaluated in recipient mice.

Results: QCT (p < 0.001) and QCT + RES (p < 0.05) reduced corneal staining in DS-exposed mice. IL-1α tear concentration was reduced by QCT, RES, and QCT + RES (p < 0.05, 0.01 and 0.01, respectively) compared to DS + vehicle mice. CD4⁺ T cells increased in recipients of DS-exposed mice (p < 0.05) and were lower in recipients of QCT- and RES-treated mice (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory effect of QCT, RES, and QCT + RES on DED-experimental model suggests that their topical application could be used for DED treatment.