ABSTRACT
Infection of the eyes, also known as conjunctivitis, is a frequent and potentially serious problem. The infections can be due either viral, bacterial or fungal. Viral conjunctivitis is mainly caused by adenovirus and to a lesser extent by herpes simplex virus. Most of the medicinal plants used to treat conjunctivitis are administered as eye drops. Polyathia cauliflora and Polyathia flagellaris are two species that belong to the family Annonaceae. They are often under-storey trees in the tropical rainforests of Borneo. Species of Polyalthia have been known to possess antibacterial and antiviral activities. Mitrephora glabra is a tree belonging to the Annonaceae family and is endemic to Borneo. The Iban of Sarawak made use of the pounded fresh leaves as a remedy for sore eyes by applying the sap as an eye drop. In West Kalimantan, the shoot of Imperata cylindrical was squeezed and the sap was used as eye drops for sore eyes.
