杭菊水萃取物預防小鼠急性高眼壓青光眼模式導致視網膜損傷之功效分析

青光眼在眼睛致盲的因素中排第二位，急性高眼壓青光眼對眼球的傷害很大，而且是不可逆的，最主要病理特徵是視網膜節細胞因缺氧而導致損傷。杭菊自古記載具有對抗發炎的能力，並且具有抗氧化的功效，以及促進微血管循環的能力，另外，早先有實驗已經證明杭菊對於眼角膜，有保護的功效，是否杭菊水萃取物可因為改善循環狀態而預防高眼壓所導致的缺氧狀態，進而對視神經節細胞也有保護功效，值得加以探討。本實驗以小鼠急性高眼壓青光眼模式，探討杭菊水萃取物對於視網膜受到的損傷，是否具有減緩的功效。實驗設計為三組，（一）、控制組，正常飲食的小鼠，未餵食杭菊水萃取物亦未接受急性高眼壓青光眼模式。（二）、對照組，小鼠接受正常飲食，未餵食杭菊水萃取物但是接受急性高眼壓青光眼模式處置。（三）、實驗組，小鼠接受正常飲食，餵食三種不同濃度的杭菊水萃取物後，分別於第四天或第七天接受急性高眼壓青光眼模式處置。三種濃度分別為100 ppm、500 ppm及1000 ppm。之後犧牲小鼠以摘取眼球進行組織染色與抗體染色，測量視網膜的厚度、視網膜色素上皮細胞數目與視網膜神經節細胞數目。實驗結果發現接受急性高眼壓青光眼模式的小鼠，整體視網膜厚度、內核層厚度以及神經節細胞層到神經纖維層的厚度均有增厚，外核層的厚度則變薄，以及網膜色素上皮細胞及神經節細胞數目減少等現象；但在餵食杭菊水萃取物後，整體厚度以及個別細胞層厚度恢復到趨近於控制組且視網膜色素上皮細胞及神經節細胞數目也有明顯維持的現象，表示杭菊水萃取物對於急性眼壓上升的小鼠青光眼模式之視網膜有保護的作用。

Glaucoma is ranked as the second most prevalent factor in causing blindness. Acute high intraocular pressure leads to gigantic damages to the eyes and such injuries are irreversible. Chrysanthemum morifolium flower extract (CMFE) by water is known as an anti-inflammatory agent for ages and is used as an antioxidant. Previous studies have shown that dietary CMFE intake can protect against photokeratitis induced by UVB exposure. This study aims to analyze the efficacy of CMFE on retinal damages by using a mouse glaucoma model. Male ICR mice aged 6- 8 weeks were randomly allocated into 3 groups: (1) control group: normal diet without CMFE and without high intraocular pressure induced, (2) damaged group: induced high intraocular pressure, but without CMFE given, (3) preventive group: induced high intraocular pressure, and with CMFE given at 100 ppm, 500 ppm, or 1000 ppm. The mice were sacrificed and eyes extracted for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Total retinal thickness, outer nuclear layer thickness, retinal pigment epithelium cell number, and retinal ganglion cell number were quantified. The results showed that CMFE can prevent glaucomatous damages caused by high intraocular pressure, as evidenced by maintenance of retinal thickness, retinal pigment epithelium and retinal ganglion cell numbers.