Delphinidin 3,5-O-diglucoside, a constituent of the maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) anthocyanin, restores tear secretion in a rat dry eye model

Dry eye disease is a disorder in tear film physiology, which leads to various abnormal states of ocular surface cells. In the present study, we evaluated the potential usefulness of orally applied maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) extract and the constituent anthocyanin as a preventative intervention in dry eye. Tear secretion capacity was evaluated following the oral administration of maqui berry extract to a rat blink-suppressed dry eye model. This suppressive effect of maqui berry extract and its constituent anthocyanins on reactive oxygen species formation from lacrimal gland was elevated by 2′, 7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Maqui berry extract and delphinidin 3,5-O-diglucoside, an anthocyanin specifically contained in the maqui berry, suppressed reactive oxygen species formation from lacrimal gland tissue and preserved tear secretion. The result of the present study demonstrates that maqui berry extract can be used as a preventative intervention for dry eye by managing tear secretion capacity in the lacrimal gland.