Recent Progress in the Protective Effects of Anthocyanins on the Retina and Its Mechanism

Excessive exposure to blue light caused by the wide use of smart phones, tablet computers and other electronic devices can induce retinal photooxidative damage, causing a public health problem that cannot be overlooked. Anthocyanins, edible plant pigments, are widely distributed in dark-colored vegetables, berries and cereals. The individual daily intake of anthocyanins has been estimated to be tens of milligrams per person. Previous studies have reported that anthocyanins exert protective effects on retinal cells and are beneficial for vision health, but the specific mechanism of action is not yet clear. In this paper, we review the current status of research on the absorption and metabolism of anthocyanins, the mechanism of light-induced retinal oxidative damage and the mechanism by which anthocyanins protect the retina from light-induced damage, focusing on the fact that anthocyanins protect against photo-oxidation and photo-degradation of bisretinoids, reduce damage caused by lipid peroxidation products, activate antioxidant pathways, reduce inflammation, suppress endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inhibit cells apoptosis. Furthermore, we systematically elucidate the key targets for the protective effect of anthocyanins on retinal cells, which provide scientific evidence for anthocyanins as functional food factors to maintain vision health.