Short-Term Effect of Aqueous Mushroom (Pleurotus tuber-regium) Extract and Latanoprost on Intraocular Pressure Using Manometer

Abstract

Pleurotus tuber-regium also known as the King tuber mushroom is an edible gilled fungus native to the tropics, belonging to the Pleurotaceae. Recent studies have shown its ability to reduce intraocular pressure when compared with anti-glaucoma medications in animal models. Manometry has been the time proven and accurate method of determining intraocular pressure especially for research purposes. This study investigated the intraocular pressure reducing ability of P. tuber-regium when compared with Latanoprost (0.005%) in normotensive feline eyes. A total of 6 healthy medium-sized cats were used for this study. After an acclimatization period of 5 days, baseline intraocular pressure was taken. The animals were divided into two experimental groups (groups 1 & 2,) made up of three cats per group, with the right eye serving as the treatment eye and the left eye as the control for each group. For group 1, their right eyes were treated with aqueous mushroom extract (40 mg/ml, 3 drops t.i.d for 7 days) and group 2 with Latanoprost (0.005%, 1 drop o.d. for 7 days) topically. This was done after the intramuscular administration of general anaesthetic (Ketamine (500mg/10ml)) at 0.8 ml/kg. Intraocular pressure measurement carried out after the instillation of the drugs by cannulation of the anterior chamber using a mercury manometer. Mushroom extract decreased intraocular pressure by 12.8 % below baseline while Latanoprost decreased intraocular pressure by 26.3% on short term topical instillation with a p-value <0.05. There was no statistically significant difference for the control group at the pre and post treatment phase. Data obtained during this study showed that aqueous mushroom extract decreased intraocular pressure in the short term when compared with Latanoprost 0.005 %.