Page 209 - 2025中醫藥與天然藥物聯合學術研討會-中醫藥與天然藥物的挑戰Ｘ機遇與未來大會手冊

PP-27

Exploration of the protective potential of Anisomeles indica against retinal

damage induced by blue light

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Er-Chiao Chang, Tzu-Chia Chang, Hsiu-Chi Liu, Wen-Liang Chang* Tsu-Chung
1
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Chang* Shu-Yi Lin*
,2

1 School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical University, Taipei
114201, Taiwan
2 Graduate Institute of Biochemistry, College of Biomedical Sciences, National Defense
Medical University, Taipei 114201, Taiwan
* E-mail: wlchang@mail.ndmctsgh.edu.tw (W.-L. Chang); tcchang@ndmctsgh.edu.tw (T.-C.
Chang); shuyilin@mail.ndmctsgh.edu.tw (S.-Y. Lin)

Abstract
Blue light exposure is a recognized risk factor for retinal health. Wavelengths below 450 nm
have been shown to damage retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The 460–470 nm range,
common in LED devices, may also disrupt circadian rhythms and contribute to age-related
macular degeneration (AMD) through oxidative and inflammatory stress. Although wet AMD
has specific drug targets, interventions for dry AMD remain limited. Anisomeles indica
(Labiatae) is a traditional Hakka herbal medicine in Taiwan. It has documented anti-
inflammatory and anti-cancer activities, but its effects on blue light–induced retinal injury have
not been evaluated. In this study, a 24 hr, 600 Lux blue light (465–470 nm) model was
established in ARPE-19 cells, and the processed water extract of Anisomeles indica (AIWP)
was prepared in our lab. Compared with 500 μM (81.6 μg/mL) N-acetylcysteine (NAC), the
results suggested that AIWP has superior protective effects against blue light induced damage,
improving cell viability (CCK8) and reducing ROS production (DCFDA assay). In blue light–
exposed ARPE-19 cells, western blot analysis revealed that AIWP increased the bcl-xL/bax
ratio, reduced cleaved caspase-3, and downregulated phosphorylated RIPK1, RIPK3, and
MLKL, as well as BiP, p-eIF2α/EIF2α, nuclear NF-κB, and CHOP, while caspase-8 and
caspase-9 remained unchanged. These findings indicate that AIWP confers protection through
coordinated modulation of apoptosis, necroptosis, and ER stress pathways. Among the fractions
of AIWP, AIW-40 displayed the strongest protective activity, effective at concentrations as low
as ~1 μg/mL. However, the major compounds purified from AIW-40, scutellarin (1) and (R)-
campneoside II (2), showed only limited efficacy, suggesting the observed protective effects
may arise from minor constituents or synergistic interactions among multiple components.
Further experiments are required to validate these possibilities and clarify the underlying
mechanisms.

Keywords: Blue light; ARPE-19; AMD; Anisomeles indica; Taiwan herbal medicine