Oculohypotensive effects of foeniculum vulgare in experimental models of glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of oculohypotensive activity of single drop application of aqueous extract of Foeniculum vulgare in experimental models of glaucoma.


METHODS
The evaluation of oculohypotensive activity of Foeniculum vulgare was done in rabbits with normal intraocular pressure (IOP) and with experimentally elevated IOP. The experimental increase in IOP was achieved using water loading and steroid induced glaucoma models.


RESULTS
The aqueous seed extract of Foeniculum vulgare exhibited 17.49, 21.16 and 22.03% reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in normotensive rabbits at 0.3%, 0.6% and 1.2% (w/v) concentrations respectively. The 0.6% concentration was further evaluated in acute and chronic models of glaucoma. A maximum mean difference of 31.20% was observed between vehicle treated and extract treated eyes in water loading model while a maximum mean IOP lowering of 31.29% was observed in steroid induced model of glaucoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The aqueous extract of Foeniculum vulgare possesses significant oculohypotensive activity, which was found to be comparable to that of timolol. Further investigations into the mechanism of action, possible toxicity and human clinical trials are warranted before the Foeniculum vulgare finds place in the arsenal of antiglaucoma drugs prescribed by physicians.
Agarwal
Renu
R
Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research, Pushp Vihar, Sector-3, New Delhi--110 017.
Gupta
Suresh Kumar
SK
Agrawal
Shyam Sunder
SS
Srivastava
Sushma
S
Saxena
Rohit
R
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D030001:Foeniculum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013256:Steroids; D013999:Timolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014869:Water Intoxication / Q000503:physiopathology
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013256:Steroids; D013999:Timolol