A study by the Buck Institute has found a broccoli-related compound may be a possible treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The compound, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), reportedly helps clear cells of environmental toxins by activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) protein. This particular protein, which normally declines as we age, is also vital in detoxifying the retina. However, according to researchers, I3C is a weak activator of AhR. Instead they used the chemical makeup of I3C to find a related compound that would bind to AhR with more strength. They found 2,2′-aminophenyl indole (2AI), which is reportedly 10 times more potent than I3C. The team also found 2AI protected human retinal cells in culture from stress and also protected retinal cells in mice from light-mediated damage.
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