title: Oculohypotensive effects of foeniculum vulgare in experimental models of glaucoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research, Pushp Vihar, Sector-3, New Delhi--110 017.
authors.forename: Renu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Suresh Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Shyam Sunder
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Sushma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saxena
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013256:Steroids; D013999:Timolol