EFFECT OF GRADED DOSES OF AQUEOUS CARICA PAPAYA SEED EXTRACT ON INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE

ABSTRACT

Increased intraocular pressure is a precursor for glaucoma, which is the most frequent cause of irreversible blindness globally. Carica papaya seed extracts have been reported to reduce high blood pressure. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of graded doses of C. papaya seed extracts in reducing blood pressure and intraocular pressure (IOP) in normotensives, with elevated blood pressure possibly leading to increased intraocular pressure. The C. papaya seed extract with dosages of 0.285g/kg, 0.356g/kg, 0.445g/kg, 0.556g/kg and 0.695g/kg of body weight were administered to fifty (50) subjects and their blood pressure and intraocular pressure checked at every 30 minutes interval to observe any significant change up to 150 minutes with the participants grouped into five based on the dosages administered. Results indicated a prominent significant reduction of the IOP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) after 60 to 90 minutes in groups 1 to 4. In Group 5, significant changes were only observed in the DBP from the 30th minute to the 90th minute.