Abstract
BackgroundThe progressive nature of glaucoma and its growing incidence make its therapy an important target for research. The role of oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of glaucoma makes antioxidants such as saffron extract an attractive target for potential clinical use. Herein, we evaluate the effect of aqueous saffron extract on intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).MethodsThirty-four eyes of 34 clinically stable POAG patients receiving treatment with timolol and dorzolamide eye drops were enrolled in this prospective, comparative, randomized interventional pilot study. Eligible subjects were randomized to receive 30 mg/day aqueous saffron extract orally (17 subjects, 17 eyes) or placebo (17 subjects, 17 eyes) for one month as an adjunct to timolol and dorzolamide. Following treatment, both study groups entered a one-month wash-out period. The main outcome measure was IOP during treatment and after the wash-out period.ResultsMean baseline IOP was 12.9 ± 3.7 versus 14.0 ± 2.5 mmHg in the saffron and control groups, respectively (p = 0.31). After three weeks of treatment, IOP was significantly decreased to 10.9 ± 3.3 mmHg in the saffron group as compared to 13.5 ± 2.3 mmHg in the control group (p = 0.013). At four weeks, IOP was still significantly lower in the saffron group (10.6 ± 3.0 versus 13.8 ± 2.2 mmHg, p = 0.001). At the end of the wash-out period, IOP was 12.9 ± 3.0 in the saffron group versus 14.2 ± 2.0 mmHg in the control group (p = 0.175). None of the patients experienced side effects during the study and wash-out period.ConclusionsOral aqueous saffron extract seems to exert an ocular hypotensive effect in primary open-angle glaucoma. This effect became evident after three weeks of therapy.The current study was registered at the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) as IRCT201201278832N1.
Highlights
The progressive nature of glaucoma and its growing incidence make its therapy an important target for research
Inclusion and exclusion criteria Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) older than 50 years of age who were under treatment with topical timolol 0.5% twice daily and dorzolamide 2% three times daily and were judged to have stable glaucoma control for at least 6 months based on a series of visual field and optic nerve head examinations were considered for enrollment as stated earlier
The excluded patients in the saffron group consisted of 5 patients with incomplete follow-up and 3 patients who used their capsules irregularly
Summary
The progressive nature of glaucoma and its growing incidence make its therapy an important target for research. The role of oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of glaucoma makes antioxidants such as saffron extract an attractive target for potential clinical use. We evaluate the effect of aqueous saffron extract on intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The important role of oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of POAG makes it an important therapeutic target and antioxidative therapy has been shown to entail an ocular hypotensive effect against dexamethasone induced IOP elevation [9]. Saffron, derived from the pistils of Crocus sativus, contains high concentrations of crocin and crocetin, which are carotenoid derivatives. This plant belongs to the Iridaceae family. Saffron has been widely used for many years in traditional Asian medicine and in Persian medicine in particular to treat depression [14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
