Effect of Orally Administered Zingiber Officinale on the Intra Ocular Pressure of Experimental Rabbits

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 ± 1.0 mmHg daily which finally stabilized at 7.00 ± 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