蝉花发酵菌丝体口服安全性及其降眼压效果评估

Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Efficacy and Safety of Fermented Cordyceps cicadae Mycelia

摘要: 高眼压是造成青光眼重要的原因之一，若长期眼内压力过高压迫视神经，视神经会受损、萎缩，影响视力，严重情形可能造成失明。蝉花(Cordyceps cicadae)是使用历史悠久的中药材，具有护肾、调节血糖与护眼等生理活性，不过尚未有针对降低眼压的文献报导。因此本研究利用液态发酵方式培养蝉花菌丝体，以大白兔动物模式评估食用安全性后，再评估其降眼压的能力。安全性部分，以口服投予蝉花发酵菌丝体低剂量2.5 mg/kg b.w.及高剂量25 mg/kg b.w.，连续喂食10天后，采血分析以及进行组织病理切片评估。结果显示，在血液学分析、血清生化分析以及肝、肾病理组织切片中，没有观察到与试验物质相关的病变。在降眼压测试中，单次口服投予不同发酵天数的蝉花发酵菌丝体单一剂量，在喂食后不同时间点量测其眼内压。结果显示，不同发酵天数的蝉花发酵菌丝体在喂食后第1小时及第3小时皆可降低兔子眼内压。综合上述，蝉花发酵菌丝体在兔子口服安全性试验中不具短期连续喂食毒性，且对降眼压有正面的效果。

Abstract: High intraocular pressure is one of the main risk factors for glaucoma. Chronic intraocular pressure may result in compression of the optic nerve with a consequence of optic nerve damage and atrophy, which can cause problems with vision and blindness in severe cases. Cordyceps cicadae is a traditional Chinese medicine that has a long history of use. It has important physiological roles in renal protection, blood sugar regulation, and eye health care. However, there is limited evidence regarding the effect of Cordyceps cicadae on intraocular pressure reduction. Therefore, this study aims to use Cordyceps cicadae mycelia using liquid fermentation and evaluate its safety and ability to lower intraocular pressure in the animal model of white rabbits. For safety assessment, 2.5 (low dose) and 25 (high-dose) mg/kg b.w. of Cordyceps cicadae mycelia were orally administered. After continuous feeding for 10 days, blood and tissues were collected for analysis. Results showed that in hematological, serum biochemical, and liver and kidney histological analyses, no observable lesions related to the test substance were found. For efficacy assessment, a single dose of Cordyceps cicadae mycelia from different fermentation days was orally administered, and the intraocular pressures of the rabbits were measured at different time points after feeding. All rabbits showed reduced intraocular pressure reduction in the first and third hour after feeding Cordyceps cicadae mycelia from different fermentation days. Taken together, these findings suggest that short-term oral supplementation of Cordyceps cicadae mycelia shows no toxicity in rabbits and has a beneficial effect on intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy.