Studies on the anti-asthmatic and antitussive properties of aqueous leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum in rodent species

Objective:To evaluate the antiasthmatic and antitussive properties of the aqueous leaf extract of Bryophyilum pinnatum {B.pinnatum)(BP) Lam.Methods:Ovalbiunin-sensilized guinea pigs which were treated with BP for 21 consecutive days were exposed to 0.2%histamine aerosol in a glass chamber.Mucus viscosity,white blood cell and lymphocyte counts and tracheal wall morphometry were measured.Bouts of cough were counted pre and post acute exposure of extract-treated(X7 d) guinea pigs to 7.5%citric acid aerosol in a chamber.Phenol red expectoration was estimated in mice after 7 d of daily administration of BP.Results:Doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day(×21 d) BP significantly increased the time for guinea pigs to experience preconvulsive dyspnoea.BP and salbutamol(0.5 mg/kg/day×21 d) reduced mucus viscosity in the sensitized group to values comparable with controls.White blood cell,lymphocyte counts and tracheal morphometry were not significantly altered.Both doses of BP also significantly reduced the bouts of cough but only 400 mg/kg/day significantly inhibited the amount of phenol red secreted.Conclusions:BP has demonstrated antiasthmatic and antitussive properties in these rodent models.These properties may underscore its use in Nigerian ethnomedicine.

Antitussive activity of Triclisia dictyophylla of the family Menispermecae

Objective:To verify through a scientific mean the therapeutic use of the plant as an anti-tussive agent,by traditional medicine healers and also aid in the search for new drugs developments from plants.Methods:The roots of Triclisia dictyophylla were investigated for their antitussive properties.The plant was uprooted in the month of June 2003 at Igbodo,Delta State,Nigeria and was taken to the university of Nigeria Nsukka for taxonomy. The roots were chopped,ground and immersed in pure drinking water for 24 hours.After filtration, extraction was carried out using a Rotary evaporator,preliminary phytochemistry and acute toxicity studies were carried out.Antitussive study was carried out using a total of 42 young rats of average weight of 72.2 g.The rats were housed in standard animal house of the university and were allowed access to feeds and water but, were fasted for 12 hours prior to commencement of experiment.Specific and appropriate dosage of the crude extract and Codeine re - dissolved in water were administered orally 30 minutes prior to induction of cough. Cough was induced by exposing the animals to Sulphure dioxide gas for 3- minutes.Coughing was taken as number of Head-nods per minute,Stethoscope aided audible sounds and,or tears secretion.Percentage cough inhibition for crude extract and,or Codeine treated rats were compared with reference to control animals.Results were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS 13.0.Results:A 10.2%extraction yield was got from a starting root initial weight of 320 g.The preliminary phytochemistry of the aqueous root extract revealed the presence of alkaloids,saponins,flavonoids,proteins,reducing sugars,steroids,resins fats/oils and glycosides. The Median lethal dose(LD_(50)) based on Lorke's 1983 method was 548 mg/kg The aqueous root extract at concentrations of 10 mg/kg,50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg orally administered,inhibited cough in rats induced by sulphure dioxide gas by 16.67%,33.33%,50.00%and 83.33%respectively.While Codeine phosphate,a standard antitussive agent,at oral concentrations of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg inhibited cough in rats induced by sulphure dioxide gas by 33.33%and 60.67%respectively.Conclusion:Earlier works by some authors had led to isolation of Morhinian Alkaloids from Triclisia dictyophylla thus most probably linking its mechanism of antitussive activity to that likable of Morphine.This study justifies the use of the plant in treatment of cough by Traditional Medicine Healers.

Isolation, Crystal Structure and Antitussive Activity of 9S,9aS-neotuberostemonine

The title compound 9S,9aS-neotuberostemonine （1） was isolated from the 95%ethanol extract of the roots of Stemona tuberosa. The crystal structure of 1, C22H33NO4, wasdetermined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal belongs to orthorhombicsystem, space group P212121, with a-9.0115（11）, b = 10.612（4）, c = 22.074（3） A, V= 2110.9（8）S^3, Z= 4, Mr= 375.49, Dc= 1.182 g/cm3, λ= 0.71079 A,μ= 0.080 cm^-1, F（000） = 816, S = 1.019,R = 0.0579 and wR = 0.1358. A total of 3109 unique reflections were collected, of which 2902were observed （I〉 2σ（I））. The absolute configuration of 1 could be assigned by referring to theconserved configuration of the methyl groups at C（13） and C（20）. In the solid state, the moleculeswere linked into a chain along the a-axis through weak hydrogen bond C（ll）-H（11A）…O（2）.Compound 1 shows significant inhibition of cough by 24%, 44% and 65% at doses of 50, 100 and150 mg/kg, respectively.

Screening of Effective Fractions for Antitussive and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Miao Medicine Aspidistra caespitosa

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects of Miao medicine Aspidistra caespitosa C.Pei.[Methods]A mouse cough model was made by the SO 2 cough induction method,and the antitussive effects of different extraction fractions of A.caespitosa were observed.The inflammation models of acute inflammatory ear swelling in mice caused by xylene,granuloma in mice caused by cotton balls,and footpad swelling in mice caused by carrageenan were made,and the different extraction fractions were used to observe the effects of different extraction fractions on mouse ear swelling,granuloma and footpad swelling.And the levels of interleukin 6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-a)in the serum of different groups of mice were detected to screen out the extraction fractions of A.caespitosa with good antitussive and anti-inflammatory activity.[Results]Antitussive experiments on mice showed that the water layer extraction fraction,ethyl acetate extraction fraction and petroleum ether extraction fraction of Miao medicine A.caespitosa could prolong the incubation period of cough in mice and reduce the number of coughs within 2 min to varying degrees,and its different extraction fractions all had different inhibitory effects on mouse ear swelling,granuloma and footpad swelling.Compared with the blank control group,the different extraction fractions could reduce IL-6,TNF-a and other indicators to different degrees.[Conclusions]Ethyl acetate extraction fraction of A.caespitosa has good antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects.

Imetit Dihydrobromide and Thioperamide Medication in Cough Hypersensitivity Model—The Role of H3 Receptors

Chronic cough is a troublesome problem and it is frequently associated with diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux, asthma and upper airway diseases—so called diagnostic triade. The magnitude and severity of cough is strongly associated with the ongoing nasal inflammation in subjects with rhinosinusitis and treatment of nasal inflammation leads to the down regulation of pathologically up-regulated cough. Histamine plays a key role in the inflammation of the upper airways of different aetiologies;therefore histamine receptors seem to be promising targets. The aim of our study was to ascertain the effect of H3R agonist imetit and H3R antagonist thioperamide on cough and symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) in an animal model of upper airway cough syndrome in ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs. OVA sensitized guinea pigs (n = 10) were repeatedly challenged with i.n. allergen-OVA to induce allergic rhinitis and to enhance cough reflex according to the validated model of experimental allergic rhinitis. Animals were pre-treated by i.p. administration of imetit (1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg of body weight) and thioperamide 30 min. prior i.n. OVA administration. Rhinitis evaluation was based on the occurrence of typical symptoms. The effect on cough was assessed from the response to inhalation of citric acid (0.4 M, 10 min), final cough count and cough latency were analysed from the airflow traces, cough motor pattern and the cough sound. AR up-regulated the cough response from 9 ± 2 to 16 ± 1 cough per provocation, med ± IQR, p < 0.05 and shortened cough latency. Imetit (1 mg/kg) suppressed nasal symptoms and decreased number of cough from 16 ± 1 to 12 ± 1;however the data did not reach significance. Imetit (2 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the nasal symptoms, and number of coughs from 16 ± 1 to 6 ± 2, med ± IQR, p < 0.05. Thioperamide (5 mg/kg of body weight) did not have expected effects on tested parameters. H3R agonist imetit, unlike H3R antagonist thioperamide has antitussive potential and ability to suppress nasal symptoms in animal model of allergic rhinitis.

Pharmacology and Toxicology of Extract from Arcangelisia gusanlung

Objective To study the pharmacology and toxicology of the extracts from Arcangelisia gusanlung(EAG). Methods The anti-inflammatory activities were investigated using various inflammatory models including ear edema induced by xylene in mice, paw edema induced by carrageenan, and cotton pellet granuloma in rats. The analgesic effect was observed in hot-plate test and writhing test in mice and the antipyretic effect was observed in rat fever model induced by yeast. The antitussive action was tested in mice by sequential method and expectorant action was evaluated by tracheal excretion of phenol red. The antidiarrhea function was observed on normal intestinal propulsion of mouse model of diarrhea induced by decoction of Sennae Folium. The toxicity was measured by toxicological experiment.Results Each dose of EAG could significantly inhibit the paw edema, cotton pellet granuloma, and intestinal propulsion. EAG significantly reduced writhing times and amount of wet manure. Obvious antipyretic action to fevered rat was observed. EAG obviously increased the tracheal excretion of phenol red and prolonged the latency of cough. No toxic reaction was shown in the observed period, and the maximum tolerance dose of mice was equivalent to 1360 times of common-used dose in human. Conclusion The clinical dosage of EAG is safe, and its anti-inflammatory, analgesia, antipyresis, antitussive, expectorant, and antidiarrhea effects are significant.