Dr. Salman Ahmed

Antitussive effect of some medicinal plants on sulphur dioxide induced cough in animal model

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Humans have used natural products to treat different pathological conditions since immemorial. Numerous plants have been reported to have antitussive activity. Our present study aimed to evaluate the ethanolic extract of Arenaria serpyllifolia (Carophyllaceae, Whole plant), Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Caesalpiniaceae, Aerial parts) and Fragaria nubicola (Rosaceae, Whole plant) for antitussive activity at the doses of 200, 400 mg/kg in healthy albino rats. Cough is a symptom and defensive reflex of removing the toxic, irritating substances and pathogens from the larynx, trachea and bronchi. Cough is usually considered a disease related to the lungs. Several substances are responsible for the stimulation of cough reflexes. Among the most common are dust, histamine and bronchoconstriction. Arenaria serpyllifolia is a small annual herb commonly called Thyme-leaved sandwort, found in uncultivated land, arid meadows and cliffs. Caesalpinia pulcherrima is an ornamental plant, usually 2 m tall, known as a Peacock flower. Fragaria nubicola grows in wooded valleys, forest margins and meadows. It is commonly known as wild strawberry. These plants have been used traditionally for cough suppression by different societies. In this study, cough was induced by using the sulphur dioxide induction method. Animals were divided into eight groups of ten animals each, and all the drugs were administered orally. Group I was the control group, while Group II was the standard. A dose-dependent inhibition of cough was observed for all extracts. At 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, all three extracts proved highly significant compared to standard. So, it proves and supports the traditional use of plants for relieving cough.

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