Phytopharmacological evaluation and anti-asthmatic activity of Ficus religiosa leaves

Objective:To discuss phytopharmacological potential and anti-asthmatic activity of Ficus religiosa(F.religiosa)(L.).Methods:Fresh leaves of F.religiosa were obtained from Vastrapur Lake,Ahmedabad,and dried to obtain powder.Histamine and acetylcholine were used to guinea pigs to establish bronchospasm model.In in vivo study,the aqueous extract of F.religiosa leaves (AEFR) at doses of 150 and 300 mg/ kg was administrated to guinea pigs,and the broncho-protective activity of AEFR was compared with aminophylline at 25 mg/kg.While in in vitro study,and 10 g/mL,20 g/mL,30 g/mL of AEFRL was administrated to guinea pigs,respectively, and mast cell stabilizing activity of AEFR was compared with ketotifen at 10 g/mL.Results: In the in-vivo model,pre-treatment with aminophylline(25 mg/kg,ip.) could significantly delay the onset of histamine induced pre-convulsive dyspnea,compared with vehicle control. Administration of AEFRL(150 and 300 mg/kg,ip.) also produced significant effect on latency to develop histamine & acetylcholine induced pre-convulsive dyspnea.In the mast cell stabilizing model,AEFRL at 10,20 and 30μg/mL could significantly increase the number of intact cells. Conclusions:It can be concluded that AEFRL is effective on histamine & acetylcholine induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs.In addition,AEFRL can potentiate the number of intact cells in the mast cell stabilizing model._____________________________________________________

Phytochemistry, anti-asthmatic and antioxidant activities of Anchomanes difformis(Blume) Engl. leaf extract

Objective: To study the phytochemistry, anti-asthmatic and antioxidant activities of the aqueous leaf extract of Anchomanes difformis(Blume) Engl.(A. difformis) and to verify claims of use in folk medicine.Methods: For anti-asthmatic activity, male and female guinea pigs with average body weight of(451.4 ± 118.1) g were divided into six groups of six animals each. Group 1served as control(distilled water); Group 2 was administered with salbutamol(reference drug) only; Group 3 served as ovalbumin sensitized group, Group 4, 5 and 6 were treated with A. difformis extract at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Described methods were used to test fluid viscosity, fluid volume and quantitative phytochemistry analysis. Absorbance was read using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer and results computed in percentage. Total antioxidant assays [2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and lipid peroxidation assay], were carried out using reported procedures.Results: The anti-asthmatic evaluation showed that protection from asthma of the animals in Group 6(400 mg/kg, 32.7%) were similar to that in Group 2(salbutamol, 33.0%).Excised trachea was free of mucus secretion in Group 5(200 mg/kg) as was observed in the control group. Fluid volume increase in Groups 3 and 6 indicated mucus secretion.DPPH radical scavenging activity of extract was effective as ascorbic acid which served as standard at 20 mg/m L. But, the extract elicited low lipid peroxidation activity compared with the reference(tocopherol) at concentrations tested.Conclusions: A. difformis aqueous leaf extract is safe and possesses positive antiasthmatic and antioxidant activities as claimed by traditional herbal practitioners in Delta State.

A study on utilization of anti-asthmatic drugs at a medical college hospital in India

Objective:To study the usage of anti-asthmatic dugs and enumerate the patients’ noncompliance. Methods:The study was conducted from 5th Feb,2006 to 5th Mar,2006.The samples were from the general medicine ward.All patients with respiratory tract infection who received anti-asthmatic drugs were included in the study.Data were collected from clinical notes and structured patient’s data,and patient interview utilizing a piloted questionnaire data collection form.The questionnaire included patient demographics,anti-asthmatics prescribed, dose,frequency and previous treatment if any and its duration,concomitant medications etc. Results:26.31%of patients were 61-70 years old.Among 57 patients,91.23%of patients received multi-therapy,8.77%of patients received mono-therapy,59.65%of patients took over the counter(OTC) drugs and 57.89%of patients were non compliant.Anti-asthmatic drugs were prescribed to asthmatic patients as oral,inhalation and others(injections),and more than one route were used for administration of drugs.Conclusion:The anti-asthmatics are used to treat breathing difficulties such as allergy.Poor compliance to treatment is common among the patients,which makes it difficult to manage asthma and increases both morbidity and mortality.It is suggested that interventions have to be done by providing counseling and improving the current prescribing trend for better and rational utilization.

Antipyretic and Anti-Asthmatic Activities of Traditional Chinese Herb-Pairs, Ephedra and Gypsum

Objective： Mahuang-Shigao herb-pair is a famous formula composed of Ephedra and Gypsum. The herb-pair is frequently used for treating cold symptoms and bronchial asthma in the clinical practice of Chinese medicine （CM）. In the present study, we evaluated evidence for the benefit of combined use of Ephedra and Gypsum by analyzing the antipyretic and anti-asthmatic activities of Ephedra-Gypsum. Methods： The antipyretic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated in yeast-induced hyperthermia test. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, including control group, standard aspirin group, and 3 Ephedra- Gypsum groups of different doses （6, 12, 24 g/kg）. Ephedra-Gypsum extract and asprin were administered orally 6 h after the injection of yeast solution and body temperature was measured every 1 h for 8 h. The anti- asthmatic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated using an ovalbumin （OVA）-induced asthmatic rat model. Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Rats were alternately sensitized and OVA＋Al（OH）3 challenged by exposure to mists of ovalbumin. Ephedra-Gypsum extracts （6, 12, 24 g/kg） or dexamethasone were administered 45 min prior to the allergen challenge for 8 days. Latent period and the weight of wet to dry ratio of lung were determined. In addition, the eosinophils in blood and white blood cell （WBC） were counted by an YZ-Hemavet Analyzer. Results： The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts at test dose （6, 12, 24 g/kg） significantly and dose-dependently attenuated yeast-induced fever in rats. The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts also prolonged the latent period, reduced OVA-induced increases in eosinophils and WBC, and decreased the wet and dry weight ratio of the lungs in the anti-asthmatic test. Conclusions： These findings indicate that the Ephedra-Gypsum extract has antipyretic and anti-asthmatic properties. Hence, the results support additional scientific evidence in prescriptions.

Constituents of the anti-asthma herbal formula ASHMI^(TM) synergistically inhibit IL-4 and IL-5 secretion by murine Th2 memory cells,and eotaxin by human lung fibroblasts in vitro

OBJECTIVE： Anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention （ASHMITM）, a combination of three tradi- tional Chinese medicinal herbs developed in our laboratory, has demonstrated efficacy in both mouse models of allergic asthma, and a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with asthma. This study was designed to determine if the anti-inflammatory effects of individual herbal constituents of ASHMITM exhibited synergy. METHODS： Effects of ASHMI and its components aqueous extracts of Lingzhi （Ganoderma lucidum）, Kushen （Sophora flavescens） and Gancao （Glycyrrhiza uralensis）, on Th2 cytokine secretion by murine memory Th2 cells （D10.G4.1） and eotaxin-1 secretion by human lung fibroblast （HLF-1） cells were determined by measuring levels in culture supernatants by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay. Potential synergistic effects were determined by computing interaction indices from concentration-effect curve parameters. RESULTS： Individual Lingzhi, Kushen and Gancao extracts and ASHMI （the combination of individual extracts） inhibited production of interleukin （IL）-4 and IL-5 by murine memory Th2 cells and eotaxin-1 production by HLF-1 cells. The mean 25%-inhibitory-concentration （IC2s） values （mg/mL） forASHMI, Lingzhi, Kushen and Gancao for IL-4 production were 30.9, 79.4, 123, and 64.6, respectively; for IL-5 production were 30.2, 263, 123.2 and 100, respectively; for eotaxin-1 were 13.2, 16.2, 30.2, and 25.1, respectively. The IC50values （mg/mL） for ASHMI, Lingzhi, Kushen and Gancao for IL-4 production were 158.5, 239.9, 446.7, and 281.8, respectively; for eotaxin-1 were 38.1, 33.1, 100, and 158.5, respectively. The interaction indices of ASHMI constituents at IC25 were 0.35 for IL-4, 0.21 for IL-5 and 0.59 for eotaxin-l. The interaction indices at IC^0 values were 0.50 for IL-4 and 0.62 for eotaxin-1 inhibition. Inhibition of IL-5 did not reach IC^0 values. All interaction indices were below 1 which indicated synergy. CONCLUSION： By comparing the interaction index values, we find that constituents in ASHMITM synergistically inhibited eotaxin-1 production as well as Th2 cytokine production.