The intraocular pressure reducing- potential of topically administered aqueous extract of Dennetia Tripetala on Wistar strain albino rats

Chigozie John Ekenze 1, Magnus Chinonye Nsonwu 1, Lilian Chioma Owunna 2, Jacqueline Obioma-Elemba 1 and Timothy Olugbenga Ogundeko 3, *

1 Department of Optometry, Imo State University, Owerri Nigeria.
2 Department of Optometry, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
3 Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Bingham University, Jos Campus, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
International Journal of Scientific Research Updates, 2023, 06(01), 017–023.
Article DOI: 10.53430/ijsru.2023.6.1.0052
Publication history: 
Received on 23 May 2023; revised on 08 July 2023; accepted on 11 July 2023
 
Abstract: 
The second section of manuscript should contain Abstract and Keywords. Abstract should be informative, self-explanatory and easy to understand.
Plant parts have continued to attract attention in the global search for the treatment of many diseases affecting humans. Dennetia tripetala (mmimi) is a well-known spicy indigenous forest fruit from the family annonacea and has been found to contain lots of minerals, vitamins, alkaloids and trace elements which are of medicinal importance. This study investigated the effect of topical ripe and unripe Dennetia tripetala seed extracts on the intraocular pressure of albino Wistar rats. Fifteen healthy male albino Wistar rats were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (A, B, C), each group consisting of 5 rats. Group A rats were treated with one drop of ripe seed extract in their right eye and one drop of Timolol eye drop in their left eye. Group B rats received one drop of unripe seed extract in their right eye and one drop of Timolol eye drop in their left eye. Group C rats served as control (received one drop of water in OD). The I0P of each rat was measured pre and post instillation of one drop volume of the solutions at 30 mins interval for 120 minutes. The findings showed peak reduction of IOP after 60 mins (6.02 mmHg, representing 31.2 % reduction) of instillation one drop volume of ripe D. tripetala seed extract and reverted towards baseline (19.16 mmhg). The peak effect of ripe D. tripetala was found to be statistically significant (P =4.558). Unlike ripe D. tripetala seed extract, the unripe extract induced consistent IOP reduction till 120 minutes (5 % after 30 minutes, 16.5 % after 60minutes and 17.9 % after 120 minutes) from the baseline (18.84 mmHg). The reduction in IOP after 60 minutes (P = .4145) and 120 minutes was statistically significant (P= 2.5448). When compared with Timolol, Timolol produced steady and highest IOP reduction (15 %, 23.5 %, and 33.3 % from the baseline) 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 120 minutes post instillation respectively.  Topical administration of aqueous extract of ripe D. tripetala seed significantly reduced intraocular pressure in albino Wistar rats, suggesting anti-glaucoma effect of the extract.
 
Keywords: 
Medicinal plant; Intraocular pressure; Glaucoma; D. tripetala; Timolol
 
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