Rosemary May Help with AMD/NEI Says Changes in Immune System Affects Development of AMD

"Researchers report that carnosic acid, a component of the herb rosemary, promotes eye health," according to Science Daily. "The team found that carnosic acid protects retinas from degeneration and toxicity in cell culture and in rodent models of light-induced retinal damage. Their findings suggest that carnosic acid may have clinical applications for the outer retina, including age-related macular degeneration." Read more.


Meanwhile the National Eye Institute reports that changes in how genes in the immune system function may result in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study identified decreased levels of DNA methylation, a chemical reaction that switches off genes, on the interleukin-17 receptor C gene (IL17RC). The lack of DNA methylation led to increased gene activity and, in turn, increased levels of IL17RC proteins in patients with AMD. IL17RC is a protein that promotes immune responses to infections, such as fungal attacks.The study appears in the Nov. 29 issue of Cell Reports.
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