Purple Sweet Potato Anthocyanin Inhibits the Proliferation of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell by Blocking Cell Cycle and Inducing Apoptosis

Purple Sweet Potato Anthocyanin (PSPA), a class of naturally occurring anthocyanins derived from purple sweet potato storage roots, possesses unique color and multiple bioactivities. This study investigated the antiproliferative effect of PSPA in human Retinal Pigment Epithelial (RPE) cells, the proliferation of which accounts for Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Blueberry Anthocyanin (BBA) was used as a contrast. PSPA and BBA inhibited RPE proliferation time-and dose-dependently through blocking the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase and inducing apoptosis via ROS accumulation, DNA damage and caspase 3/7 activation. Meanwhile, PSPA showed stronger potential than BBA in inhibiting RPE growth. Hence, we highlighted the importance of dietary supplementation of anthocyanins in PVR prevention and the application of PSPA in health industry.