Cyanidin- 3-glucoside Ameliorates Ocular Surface Dysfunction in Rats with Dry Eye Disease

Authors

• Ke ZHANG, School of Health Science and Engineering , University of Shanghai for Science and Technology , Shanghai 200093 , China ;Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration , Beijing 100037 , China
• Ziyu LIU, Beijing Tongren Eye Center , Beijing Tongren Hospital , Capital Medical University , Beijing 100730 , China ;Beijing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Visual Science , Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology , Beijing 100730 , China
• Zhangben YAO, Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration , Beijing 100037 , China ;College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering , China Agricultural University , Beijing 100083 , China
• Peng ZHANG, Beijing Tongren Eye Center , Beijing Tongren Hospital , Capital Medical University , Beijing 100730 , China ;Beijing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Visual Science , Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology , Beijing 100730 , China
• Lei TIAN, Beijing Tongren Eye Center , Beijing Tongren Hospital , Capital Medical University , Beijing 100730 , China ;Beijing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Visual Science , Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology , Beijing 100730 , China
• Ying JIE, Beijing Tongren Eye Center , Beijing Tongren Hospital , Capital Medical University , Beijing 100730 , China ;Beijing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Visual Science , Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology , Beijing 100730 , China
• Yong WANG, Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration , Beijing 100037 , ChinaFollow

Corresponding Author(s)

王勇（1987—），男，博士，副研究员，主要从事粮油营养与健康研究。E-mail：wangy@ags.ac.cn

Abstract

[Objective ] Studies have shown that cyanidin- 3-glucoside (C3G),the main component of black rice anthocyanins,exhibits protective effects on retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE ) cells.However,there is a lack of in vivo evidence regarding the efficacy of C 3G in alleviating dry eye disease (DED ),which limits its application in ocular surface disorders.This study aims to investigate the protective effects of C 3G on DED in rats.[Method ] 24 Wistar rats were randomly assigned into control,model,and C 3G groups.In model and C 3G groups,a DED model was established by subcutaneous injection of scopolamine hydrobromide (4 times daily for 28 d).The C 3G group was administered 50 mg/kg C 3G by gavage during the modeling period.DED parameters,including tear secretion and fluorescein sodium staining,were measured weekly.On day 28,corneal and conjunctival tissue samples were collected to assess inflammatory cytokine levels and histopathological changes.[Result ] Compared with the control group,the model group showed reduced tear secretion,increased corneal fluorescein staining scores,upregulated mRNA relative expression levels of tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) and interleukin- 6 (IL-6) genes (P<0.05),disarrangement of corneal cells,loose stromal layers,and decreased goblet cells in the conjunctival tissue.Compared with the model group,the C 3G group showed elevated tear secretion,reduced fluorescein staining scores,downregulated mRNA relative expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 genes (P<0.05),tightly arranged corneal cells and increased goblet cells in the conjunctival tissue.[Conclusion ] C3G has the effect of alleviating corneal and conjunctival tissue damage in DED rats,which provides a theoretical basis for the development of functional food containing black rice anthocyanins for eye protection.

Publication Date

1-15-2026

First Page

43

Last Page

51

DOI

10.12441/spyswjs.20250719001

Recommended Citation

ZHANG, Ke; LIU, Ziyu; YAO, Zhangben; ZHANG, Peng; TIAN, Lei; JIE, Ying; and WANG, Yong (2026) "Cyanidin- 3-glucoside Ameliorates Ocular Surface Dysfunction in Rats with Dry Eye Disease," Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology: Vol. 45: Iss. 1, Article 5.
DOI: 10.12441/spyswjs.20250719001
Available at: https://spsw.spyswjs.cnjournals.com/journal/vol45/iss1/5

References

［1］ PEDRO A C，GRANATO D，ROSSO N D.Extraction of anthocyanins and polyphenols from black rice （Oryza sativa L.） by modeling and assessing their reversibility and stability［J］.Food Chemistry，2016，191：12-20.
［2］ LIU J Q，ZHOU H B，SONG L，et al.Anthocyanins：promising natural products with diverse pharmacologicalactivities［J］.Molecules，2021，26（13）：3807.
［3］ 彭珍珍，綦文涛，王勇，等.花色苷对视网膜的保护作用及其机制研究进展 ［J］.食品科学，2022，43（9）：249-257.PENG Z Z，QI W T，WANG Y，et al.Recent progress in the protective effects of anthocyanins on the retina and its mechanism ［J］.Food Science，2022，43（9）：249-257.（in Chinese）
［4］ HOU Z H，QIN P Y，ZHANG Y，et al.Identification of anthocyanins isolated from black rice （Oryza sativa L.） and their degradation kinetics ［J］.Food Research International，2013，50（2）：691-697.
［5］ KALT W，CASSIDY A，HOWARD L R，et al.Recent research on the health benefits of blueberries and their anthocyanins ［J］.Advances in Nutrition，2020，11（2）：224-236.
［6］ NOMI Y，IWASAKI-KURASHIGE K，MATSUMOTO H.Therapeutic effects of anthocyanins for vision and eye health［J］.Molecules，2019，24（18）：3311.
［7］ WANG Y，ZHANG D，LIU Y X，et al.The protective effects of berry-derived anthocyanins against visible light-induced damage in human retinal pigment epithelial cells［J］.Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture，2015，95（5）：936-944.
［8］ WANG Y，QI W T，HUO Y Z，et al.Cyanidin- 3-glucoside attenuates 4-hydroxynonenal- and visible light-induced retinal damage in vitro and in vivo［J］.Food & Function，2019，10（5）：2871 -2880.
［9］ CHAN T C Y，CHOW S S W，WAN K H N，et al.Update on the association between dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction ［J］.Hong Kong Medical Journal，2019，25（1）：38-47.
［10］ SONG P G，XIA W，WANG M L，et al.Variations of dry eye disease prevalence by age，sex and geographic characteristics in China：a systematic review and meta-analysis［J］.Journal of Global Health，2018，8（2）：020503.
［11］ PELLEGRINI M，SENNI C，BERNABEI F，et al.The role of nutrition and nutritional supplements in ocular surface diseases ［J］.Nutrients，2020，12（4）：952.
［12］ FAVERO G，MORETTI E，KRAJČÍKOVÁ K，et al.Evidence of polyphenols efficacy against dry eye disease［J］.Antioxidants，2021，10（2）：190.
［13］ PENG W T，WU Y L，PENG Z Z，et al.Cyanidin- 3-glucoside improves the barrier function of retinal pigment epithelium cells by attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis ［J］.Food Research International，2022，157：111313.
［14］ LIU T T，QI W T，PENG W T，et al.Cyanidin- 3-glucoside protects the photooxidative damage of retinal pigment epithelium cells by regulating sphingolipid signaling and inhibiting MAPK pathway ［J］.Food Science and Human Wellness，2024，13（2）：621-632.
［15］ WANG Y，HUO Y Z，ZHAO L，et al.Cyanidin- 3-glucoside and its phenolic acid metabolites attenuate visible light-induced retinal degeneration in vivo via activation of Nrf2/HO- 1 pathway and NF -κB suppression ［J］.Molecular Nutrition & Food Research，2016，60（7）：1564 -1577.
［16］ LEE S H，JEONG E，PAIK S S，et al.Cyanidin- 3-glucoside extracted from mulberry fruit can reduce N-methyl- N-nitrosourea-induced retinal degeneration in rats［J］.Current Eye Research，2014，39（1）：79-87.
［17］ MU N，WANG H，CHEN D Y，et al.A novel rat model of dry eye induced by aerosol exposure of particulate matter［J］.Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science，2022，63（1）：39.
［18］ BRON A J，ARGÜESO P，IRKEC M，et al.Clinical staining of the ocular surface：mechanisms and interpretations ［J］.Progress in Retinal and Eye Research，2015，44：36-61.
［19］ HARRELL C R，FEULNER L，DJONOV V，et al.The molecular mechanisms responsible for tear hyperosmolarity-induced pathological changes in the eyes of dry eye disease patients ［J］.Cells，2023，12（23）：2755.
［20］ JONES L，DOWNIE L E，KORB D，et al.TFOS DEWS II management and therapy report ［J］.The Ocular Surface，2017，15（3）：575-628.
［21］ NAKAMURA S，TANAKA J，IMADA T，et al.Delphinidin 3，5-O-diglucoside，a constituent of the maqui berry （Aristotelia chilensis） anthocyanin，restores tear secretion in a rat dry eye model ［J］.Journal of Functional Foods，2014，10：346-354.
［22］ SHADMANI A，WU A Y.Navigating the path to corneal healing success and challenges：a comprehensive overview［J］.Eye，2025，39（6）：1047 -1055.
［23］ PAN Q H，GE X N，WANG D，et al.DNA methylation modification：dawn of research on cornea -related diseases［J］.Life Sciences，2025，376：123757.
［24］ LEE H S，CHAUHAN S K，OKANOBO A，et al.Therapeutic efficacy of topical epigallocatechin gallate in murine dry eye ［J］.Cornea，2011，30（12）：1465 -1472.
［25］ ABENGÓZAR-VELA A，SCHAUMBURG C S，STERN M E，et al.Topical quercetin and resveratrol protect the ocular surface in experimental dry eye disease ［J］.Ocular Immunology and Inflammation，2019，27（6）：1023 -1032.
［26］ WEI Y，ASBELL P A.The core mechanism of dry eye disease is inflammation ［J］.Eye & Contact Lens，2014，40（4）：248-256.
［27］ KOJIMA T，DOGRU M，KAWASHIMA M，et al.Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye ［J］.Progress in Retinal and Eye Research，2020，78：100842.
［28］ JIN X L，WANG C T，WU W，et al.Cyanidin- 3-glucoside alleviates 4-hydroxyhexenal-induced NLRP 3 inflammasome activation via JNK-c-Jun/AP- 1 pathway in human retinal pigment epithelial cells ［J］.Journal of Immunology Research，2018，2018（1）：5604610.
［29］ TSENG C L，HUNG Y J，CHEN Z Y，et al.Synergistic effect of artificial tears containing epigallocatechin gallate and hyaluronic acid for the treatment of rabbits with dry eye syndrome ［J］.PLoS One，2016，11（6）：e0157982.［30］ LEE Y，PARK J，BANG S，et al.A standardized extract of green- cotyledon small black soybean （EYESOY®） ameliorates dry eye syndrome in an animal model ［J］.Current Eye Research，2024，49（10）：1021 -1029.
［31］ GIPSON I K.Goblet cells of the conjunctiva：a review of recent findings ［J］.Progress in Retinal and Eye Research，2016，54：49-63.
［32］ FLOYD A M，ZHOU X，EVANS C，et al.Mucin deficiency causes functional and structural changes of the ocular surface ［J］.PLoS One，2012，7（12）：e50704.
［33］ CHEN J Y，ZHANG W J，ZHENG Y X，et al.Ameliorative potential of resveratrol in dry eye disease by restoring mitochondrial function ［J］.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine，2022，2022（1）：1013444.
［34］ LEE J M，CHOI A，LEE H H，et al.Purple corn extract improves dry eye symptoms in models induced by desiccating stress and extraorbital lacrimal gland excision［J］.Nutrients，2023，15（24）：5063.
［35］ PARK B，JO K，LEE T G，et al.Polydatin inhibits NLRP 3 inflammasome in dry eye disease by attenuating oxidative stress and inhibiting the NF -κB pathway ［J］.Nutrients，2019，11（11）：2792.