Investigation of bioactive leads for the prevention of Bronchial Asthmatic syndrome

Abstract

newline Abstract newlineix newlineBackground: Asthma is a highly prevalent disease affecting millions of death worldwide. It is characterized by sniffing, sneezing, coughing, bronchoconstriction, hyper-responsiveness, excessive mucus, and bronchial inflammation. Onosoma bracteatum commonly called as Gojihva, is recommended to cure asthma and respiratory disorders. It is constituted into various herbal formulations to treat respiratory and cough diseases. Flavonoids belong to a vast group of plant secondary metabolites with variable phenolic structures. These are reported to have anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-asthmatic activities and modify immune responses. Benzopyrone class of compounds occurs in nature as flavones, isoflavones, neoflavones, coumarins etc. Depending upon the type of lactone ring, benzopyrones are available as and#945;-benzopyrone, and#61538;-benzopyrone and and#947;-benzopyrone of which and#945;-benzopyrone (coumarines) and and#947;- benzopyrone (flavones, isoflavones, neoflavones) occur widely in nature. newlineAim: The aim of present study was to carry out phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of Onosoma bracteatum and synthesized flavones for prevention of respiratory and asthmatic disorders. newlineMethods: The plant drug sample was duly authentified, dried and extracted using pet ether and alcohol (70% in water) as solvents. The phytochemical testing for presence of flavonoid, phenolic, alkaloid and saponin contents were done. The acute toxicity study of prepared extracts were carried out, as per OECD 423 guidelines and the animals were observed for adverse symptoms and mortality, if any. Male Hartley Guinea pigs (n=4) were selected for further in-vivo studies. Citric acid (7.5%) was given to the animals to induce coughing. In chronic model for asthma, the animals were actively sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of 20 and#956;g ovalbumin and 100 mg Al(OH)3 dissolved in normal saline (0.2 ml) twice in a gap of seven days. Two weeks later, the animals were placed in Perspex chamber equipped with an ultrasonic nebulizer a