Abstract:
Management of allergic conjunctivitis with conventional anti-allergic drugs usually cause the discomfort of dry
eyes. This study, therefore, sought to evaluate the effect of Pistia stratiotes, a herbal remedy with anti-allergic
properties, on tear secretion and tear film stability. ICR mice were grouped and treated with 5 mg/kg cetirizine,
10 mg/kg prednisolone, 100 mg/ kg leaf extract of P. stratiotes (LEPS), or 2 ml/kg normal saline per os for 7
consecutive days. With the phenol red thread test and the determination of fluorescein tear film break-up time,
tear secretion and tear film stability before and after drug interventions were determined. Results recorded
indicated that tear secretion and tear film stability declined significantly with cetirizine treatment (1.188 ± 0.4369
mm; P ≤ 0.05, and 2.688 ± 0.6185 s; P ≤ 0.001 respectively), while only tear secretion reduced significantly (P ≤
0.05) in mice treated with prednisolone (0.9380 ± 0.4422 mm). Treatment with LEPS showed no significant
effect (P > 0.05) on tear secretion and tear film stability (0.7050 ± 0.4236 mm, and 0.9790 ± 0.6145 s
respectively); comparable to normal saline treatment. Per the findings, Pistia stratiotes does not affect tear
secretion and tear film stability and hence is not likely to exhibit the adverse effect of dry eyes, as conventional
anti-allergic drugs do, in the management of allergic conjunctivitis.
