BITTER KOLA EYEDROPS

 

Bitter Kola is a nut widely grown in African countries. It has many systemic health benefits, which have been reported elsewhere.

Bitter Kola fruit

Professor Adefule Ositelu, a retired ophthalmologist from the University of Lagos, Nigeria has reported the effect of Bitter Kola eye drops in glaucoma patients. According to her study, 0.5% Bitter Kola eye drops are as effective as Timolol eye drops in controlling intraocular pressure (IOP).

To assess the effectiveness of Bitter Kola eyedrops, a double-blind case-control study was performed by Professor Bernice Adegbehingbe, head of the department of ophthalmology and head of glaucoma services at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. In the study conducted in four centers, half of the patients received Timolol 0.5% eye drops, while the other half were given Bitter Kola 0.5% eye drops. The patients were followed up for 6 months. At the end of the study period, the two medications were found to be equally effective in reducing IOP.

Although the study was conducted on open-angle glaucoma patients and ocular hypertensives, the authors believe that the agent can be effective for closed-angle patients as well. The agent acts by constricting the pupil/iris and thus overcoming the angle crowding seen in closed-angle patients.

WHAT IS BITTER KOLA?

Garcinia kola (bitter kola, a name sometimes also used for G. afzelii) is a species of flowering plant belonging to the Mangosteen genus Garcinia of the family Clusiaceae (a.k.a. Guttiferae). It is found in Benin, Cameroon, The Gambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Garcinia kola is traditionally used by African folk healers who believe that it has purgative, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial properties. The seeds are used for liver disorders, bronchitis, throat infections, colic, head or chest colds, and cough. It is also used as a chewing stick.

REFERENCE:

Adefule-Ositelu AO, Adegbehingbe BO, Adefule AK, Adegbehingbe OO, Samaila E, Oladigbolu K. Efficacy of Garcinia kola 0.5% Aqueous Eye Drops in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2010 Jan;17(1):88-93. doi: 10.4103/0974-9233.61224. PMID: 20543944; PMCID: PMC2880381.