THE MOMENTARY EFFECT OF XYLOPIA AETHIOPICA ON INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE

Abstract

Xylopia aethiopica is an important item of local trade throughout Africa as a spice, flavouring for food and for medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aqueous extract of its fruit on intraocular pressure (IOP) of normotensive subjects. A total of eighty (n=80) ocular normotensives between 18 and 50 years, with mean age of 27.28±7.84years and mean body weight of 64.45±12.70kg consisting of forty (40) (50%) males and forty (40) (50%) females, were recruited for this study. Their baseline intraocular pressure was measured and intraocular pressure was taken for 30, 60 and 90 minutes after ingestion of either distilled water or aqueous extract of Xylopia aethiopica fruit. The mean baseline intraocular pressure was 13.52±1.70mmHg; 30minutes after ingestion of the aqueous extract of Xylopia aethiopica, there was a significant increase in mean intraocular pressure to 15.55±2.00mmHg (p< 0.05); after 60minutes the mean IOP decreased to 14.43±1.62mmHg and then returned close to mean baseline IOP of 13.45±1.80mmHg.There was no significant change in mean IOP (p> 0.05) when males were compared withfemales. Xylopia aethiopica causes a transient fluctuation in IOP which may affect thefindings and analyses of IOP. Eye care providers should be cautious of raised IOP inducedby spices like X. aethiopica; and ask patients about their meals or medications before IOPmeasurements are taken.