%0 Journal Article %T Effect of Orally Administered Zingiber Officinale on the Intra Ocular Pressure of Experimental Rabbits %A RUE Akpalaba %A CG Agu %A OO Adeleke %A CC Asonye %J International Journal of Health Research %D 2009 %I %X PURPOSE: To determine the therapeutic effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) on increased intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: Twenty male and female New Zealand rabbits divided into 5 groups (A, B, C, D and E) were used. Groups B and D were administered with topical atropine 1% for 2 weeks while groups A and C were not so treated and group E was used as control. After increased IOP was achieved in groups B and D, oral ginger (1.00 ml) obtained by hot (100 oC) extraction was administered to each rabbit in groups A and B while 1.0 ml of cold (37 oC) extracts of ginger was administered to groups C and D all twice daily. RESULTS: There was significant decrease in mean IOP (within the range of 3.0 ¡À 1.0 mmHg daily which finally stabilized at 7.00 ¡À 1.0 mmHg) in all groups treated with both hot and cold extracts of ginger. CONCLUSION: Ginger lowers IOP in rabbits¡¯ eyes and may be a useful agent in reducing IOP in humans as it is cheap, commonly available, relatively free from adverse effects and beneficial to all the major tissues of the body. eywords: Intraocular pressure, Ginger, Zingiber officinale, Topical application %U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ijhr/article/view/47911