Research Information System
Current Eye Research, vol.51, no.4, pp.413-423, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of bakuchiol on clinical and histopathological outcomes in a rat model of corneal alkali burn. Methods: Corneal alkali burns were induced in the right eyes of 35 male Wistar rats, which were randomized into five groups: control, carbomer, steroid, 0.14 mg/g bakuchiol, and 0.28 mg/g bakuchiol. Examinations were performed under stereomicroscopy with intraperitoneal ketamine anesthesia on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 to assess corneal epithelial defects and opacity; on day 14, corneal neovascularization was additionally evaluated. After the final examination, the eyes were enucleated, and the corneas were processed for hematoxylin–eosin and immunohistochemical staining. Epithelial necrosis, inflammatory cell density, corneal hemorrhage, stromal edema, and staining intensity for VEGF and TNF-α were semi-quantitatively scored. Results: Bakuchiol treatment, particularly at 0.28 mg/g, significantly reduced corneal opacity, neovascularization, hemorrhage, and stromal edema compared with the steroid-treated group. Conclusions: Bakuchiol demonstrated promising anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects and may represent a potential adjunctive treatment for corneal chemical injuries.