ABSTRACT
Auricularia auricula-judae is an edible mushroom commonly known as ‘jelly ear’. Modern research into possible medical applications has variously concluded that A. auricula-judae has antitumour, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of aqueous A. auricula-judae extract on induced ocular hypertension in New Zealand rabbits. Thirty rabbits (30 eyes, OD only) divided equally and randomly into six groups labelled A-F were used in this experimental study. Baseline IOP was obtained for all groups after 2weeks of acclimatisation using the Perkins Handheld Tonometer. Thereafter ocular hypertension (i.e. increase in IOP by about 5-10mmHg above baseline) was induced in Groups A-E using 1drop of 1% prednisolone susp. applied once daily for 7days. Groups A, B and C (Treatment groups) were then treated with 100mg/mL, 200mg/mL and 400mg/mL graded concentration of A. auricula-judae extracts for 5days. Distilled water was topically administered to Group D (negative control) and Group E (positive control) was treated with 0.5% Timolol. Group F was used as the normal control without any topical administrations. Mean basal IOP (F=0.045, p=0.999) and mean IOP at Day 4 (F=1.749, p=0.162) did not vary significantly across the six groups. However, mean IOP at Day 0 (F=7.164, p=0.000), Day 1 (F=5.410, p=0.002), Day 2 (F=6.080, 0.001), Day 3 (F=4.836, p=0.003) and Day 5 (F=2.830, p=0.038) varied significantly across the six groups. Peak IOP lowering effect was observed on Day 4. It was also shown that the change in IOP was dose-dependent. In conclusion, A. auricula-judae was shown in this study to cause a statistically significant reduction in IOP. Although the mechanism by which this reduction in IOP occurred is not clear. Further research is therefore recommended to determine the exact mechanism of action by which A. auricula-judae reduces IOP.
Keywords: Auricularia auricula-judae, aqueous, extracts, intraocular pressure, New Zealand rabbits.
