Intraocular pressure-lowering activity of topical application of Aegle marmelos fruit extract in experimental animal models.

Abstract

AIM: The present study was designed to evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering activity of topical application of the aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos fruit in experimental animal models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: New Zealand white rabbits with normal and experimentally elevated IOP using water loading and steroid-induced models were included in this study. The IOP-lowering effect of A. marmelos fruit extract in rabbits with experimentally elevated IOP was also compared with that of timolol 0.25%. RESULTS: In rabbits with normal IOP, the A. marmelos fruit extract at a concentration of 1% showed the maximum IOP-lowering effect with 22.81% reduction from baseline IOP. The maximum IOP reduction achieved in water loading and steroid-induced models with the same concentration of A. marmelos was 27.57 and 28.41% from baseline, respectively. The efficacy was comparable to that of timolol after 45 min of water loading in the water loading model, and during the first 2 h of treatment in the steroid-induced model. CONCLUSION: A. marmelos fruit extract showed significant IOP-lowering activity in experimental animal models.