视网膜色素上皮（RPE）细胞具有参与感光细胞的营养与代谢产物转运、吞噬感光细胞脱落盘膜及构成血-视网膜屏障等生理作用，从而影响视觉功能。光诱导的脂质过氧化损伤和细胞衰老是导致RPE细胞功能衰退的主要原因。大量研究显示，非花色苷类黄酮（简称黄酮）具有抗脂质过氧化、抑制RPE细胞光损伤、延缓细胞衰老等功效。本课题选用5类18种黄酮作为原料，以DHA介导光诱导的脂质过氧化RPE细胞模型和RPE细胞复制衰老模型为基础，研究不同结构的黄酮对RPE细胞光损伤的保护效果，延缓RPE细胞衰老功效，并进一步以青紫蓝兔视网膜光损伤模型进行验证评价。探索黄酮对RPE细胞保护的作用机理，探讨黄酮与抗脂质过氧化活性及RPE细胞保护效果的构效关系，从食品营养学角度对黄酮类物质维持视网膜的健康提供理论依据。

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells affect visual functions of eyes through the roles in nutrition supply and metabolites transfer of photoreceptor cells, clearance of apoptotic cells, and as safety barrier. Lipids peroxidation induced by light and cell aging are the key causes for both the degradation of metabolic functions of RPE cells and the major visual malfunctions. Enormous evidence demonstrated that non-anthocyanin flavonoids (flavonoids) could protect lipid peroxidation, deter light-induced damage in RPE cells, and delay cell aging. In this study, eighteen flavonoids in 5 groups will be evaluated via light-induced lipid peroxidation RPE cell model mediated by DHA and RPE cells replicative senescence model, to investigate protections on light induced retinal peroxidation and antiaging effects of individual flavonoid in RPE cells. These effects will be validated in vivo with pigmented rabbits. Action and mechanisms of flavonoid in RPE cell protection and the structure/efficacy relationships of flavonoid with lipids peroxidation and RPE cell protections will be interpreted and attempt to provide scientific supports for flavonoids sustaining the retinal health from the perspective of food nutrition.