Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), also known as age-related macular degeneration, is one of the major blinding eye diseases that threaten the visual function of middle-aged and elderly people, and with the increasing number of elderly people in China, the number of patients has also increased, and it has become an important cause of serious damage to visual function. The exact etiology of AMD is currently unknown and may be related to age genetic factors environmental influences on the retina chronic photodamage nutritional disorders oxidative damage metabolic disorders, etc. In contrast, it has been reported in the literature that lutein and zeaxanthin are the only two carotenoids present in the human fundus, and the levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the fundus have a negative correlation with the incidence of age-related macular degeneration. More studies have reported that lutein has antioxidant and photodamage prevention functions. Food sources of lutein and lycopene Lutein and lycopene are found in many vegetables and fruits, and foods with high lutein content include kale, amaranth leaves, watercress, and spinach. Foods with high lycopene content include guava, watermelon, tomatoes, and red grapefruit. So far, there is no evidence that animals and humans can synthesize carotenoids (including lutein and lycopene), the human body needs carotenoids are required through food intake. 2, lutein and retinal macula macula is located in the posterior pole of the retina of higher animals, a central non-vascular depression, anatomically called the central concave, clinically called macula ( ma cul a l u t ea ) or macular central concave, because the area is rich in lutein and named. In the human body, the macula is the most acute part of the retina, where the concentration of macular pigment is the highest. After lutein is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is mainly distributed in the retina, and its concentration is highest in the macula, where it forms macular pigment together with zeaxanthin (zeaxa nt hi n). Macular pigment is a mixture of lutein and zeaxanthin. In fact, lutein and zeaxanthin are present not only in the macula but also in the whole retina, but the concentration is highest in the macula. The density of lutein is higher in the dense area of retinal rod cells, so it is more abundant in the peripheral part of retinal macula, while the density of zeaxanthin is higher in the dense area of retinal cone cells, so it is basically concentrated in the central recess of retinal macula. 3, the protective effect of lutein on the retina The retina is an important tissue for vision formation. Light reaches the retina with normal function and forms a visual image, but if the intensity and duration of light exceed the capacity of the retina, it will cause photodamage. Since the optical system of the eye can concentrate light on the macula by itself, prolonged low and moderate intensity light damage mainly occurs in the macula, which is called macular degeneration. For the mechanism of retinal photodamage, the macular pigment protects the macular region of the retina through the following two ways: 1. The filtering effect of lutein on blue light. Macular pigments are mainly accumulated in the Henle fiber layer, which consists of many photoreceptor neuronal axons that cover the photoreceptors. The conjugated polyene chain of lutein makes it absorb visible light, and the maximum wavelength of its absorption spectrum is related to the degree of conjugation of the polyene chain. The maximum absorption wavelength of luteolin in ethanol is 445 nm (the absorption wavelength of luteolin in different solvents is slightly different). Because the maximum absorption wavelength of lutein is within the wavelength range of blue light, so it has absorption effect on blue light before it reaches the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells and the lower choroidal vascular layer, the macular pigment has a filtering effect on blue light, weakening the intensity of blue light and reducing the production of photon excited free radicals. 2, antioxidant effect. The molecular structure of lutein and in vitro tests have shown that it has reducing properties, lutein can inactivate singlet oxygen and capture reactive oxygen radicals, to achieve the role of protecting photosensitive cells. The hydroxyl group is readily oxidized to the reactive carbonyl group both in vivo and in vitro, and the allyl structure formed by the E -pyrone ring hydroxyl group (right end) and the ring double bond in luteolin is more easily oxidized. The polyene chain of luteolin is also susceptible to oxidation by oxygen radicals. These chemical structures of luteolin indicate that it is reductive and has a protective effect against retinal photodamage.