Effect of maqui-berry extract in dry eye disease - A clinical and molecular analysis

• Published in: Indian journal of ophthalmology Vol. 71; no. 4; pp. 1613 - 1618
• Main Authors: Kundu, Gairik, Shetty, Rohit, D'Souza, Sharon, Gorimanipalli, Bhavya, Koul, Ameeta, Sethu, Swaminathan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd 01.04.2023; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Edition: 2
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Cell adhesion; Chemical properties; Cornea; cytokines; delphinidin; dry eye disease; Dry eye syndromes; Dry Eye Syndromes - diagnosis; Dry Eye Syndromes - drug therapy; Eye diseases; Fruit; Gelatinase B; Health aspects; Humans; Inflammation; Intercellular adhesion molecule 1; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-10 - therapeutic use; Interleukin-17 - therapeutic use; Interleukin-6 - therapeutic use; maqui berry; Materia medica, Vegetable; Matrix metalloproteinase; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Medical treatment; Metalloproteinase; Microfluidics; Original; Original Article; Patients; Plant extracts; Rosidae; tear fluid; Tears; Testing; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - therapeutic use; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; India; dry eye disease; Cytokines; inflammation; Maqui berry; tear fluid; delphinidin
• ISSN: 0301-4738; 1998-3689; 1998-3689
• DOI: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_2909_22

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of maqui-berry extract (MBE) in improving signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) along with ocular surface inflammation in patients with DED. Methods: Twenty patients were randomly assigned to a MBE or a placebo group (PLC). DED parameters including Schirmer's test 1 (ST1), tear film break-up time (TBUT), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and corneal staining were assessed before treatment and 2 months post-treatment. Tear fluid samples before and after treatment from a subset of these patients were collected from the study subjects using sterile Schirmer's strips, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, IL-6, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM1), and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) were measured using a microfluidic cartridge-based multiplex ELISA. Results: The MBE group demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in OSDI scores along with a significant increase in Schirmer's test 1 compared to the PLC group. No significant change in TBUT and corneal staining was observed between the study groups. Levels of proinflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, TNFα, and MMP9 were observed to be significantly reduced, along with a significant increase in IL-10 levels following treatment in the MBE group compared with the PLC group. Conclusion: Consumption of MBE resulted in the resolution of DED signs and symptoms, along with a reduction in ocular surface inflammation.