Pharmacognostical Standardization and Pharmacological Evaluation of Active principles from Anti asthmatic plants

Abstract

newline ix newlineABSTRACT newlineAim: The aim of study was to evaluate phytochemical and pharmacological potential of newlinerhizome of Hedychium spicatum var. acuminatum and galls of Pistacia integerrima J. L. newlineStewart ex Brandis against experimentally induced asthmatic syndrome in Guinea pigs. newlineMethods: The pet ether and hydro-ethanolic extracts of plant drugs were prepared using newlinesoxhlet apparatus and phytochemical screening was performed. Pharmacognostical, newlinephysicochemical and phytochemical evaluations for standardization of each plant drug newlinewere performed in conformity to the monographs in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. newlineFingerprinting analysis of pet ether extracts and extracted oils using GC-MS method was newlinedone. Pharmacological evaluation of anti-asthmatic activity of each plant drug was carried newlineout using allergen (citric acid) induced cough and antigen (ovalbumin) induced asthma newlinemodels in Guinea pigs respectively. Acute toxicity study was also performed as per OECD newlineguidelines and in-vitro anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and immonomodulatory studies newlinewere also carried out. Results: Phytochemical screening for pet ether extract of both plant newlinedrugs showed the presence of terpenoids, phytosterols and fatty acids, and hydro-ethanolic newlineextract showed flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, etc. The physicochemical newlinefindings such as foreign matter, ash values, LOD, extractive values for both plant drugs newlinewere in confirmation with Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. In the citric acid model, treatment newlinewith pet ether of each plant drug at 200 and 400 mg/kg, produced significant reduction in newlinecough response, and the effects of the pet ether extract of each plant drug (high dose) were newlinecomparable to codeine. Hydro-ethanolic extracts at same doses also produced a reduction newlinein cough response with lesser effect. In OVA induced asthma model, pet ether extract of newlineeach plant drug at 200 and 400 mg/kg ameliorated asthmatic reactions as evident by newlineincrease cough latency and decrease frequency, cellular infiltration of eosinophils and newlineleukocytes in BAL and biochemical estimations like TBARS, NOX and increased GSH in newlineBAL and lung tissue significantly, and high doses were comparable to aminophylline. newlineThese findings were supported by histological studies of lung tissue. The in-vitro biological newlineinvestigations revealed that oil and pet ether extract of each plant drug have possible antioxidative, newlineanti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. GC-MS analysis of H. newlinespicatum showed the presence of 85 compounds which are mainly terpenoids like alpha and newlinex newlinebeta-Pinene, 1,8-Cineol, beta-Linalool, L-4-Terpineol, Levo (-) -alpha-Terpineol, alpha and newlinebeta Caryophyllene, cis-and#946;-Farnesene, Cubedol, and#945;-Muurolene, Gamma- and delta-Cadinene, newlineHedycaryol and including fatty acids and Coumarin. GC-MS analysis of P. integerrima newlineshowed the presence of 46 compounds mainly terpenoids like 3-Carene, alpha- and beta- newlinePinene, Camphene, beta-Phellandrene, gamma-Terpinene, O-Cymene, Terpinolene, alpha- newlineTerpinene, Fenchol, Terpinen-4-ol, alpha-Terpineol, Verbenone, L-Bornyl acetate, beta- newlineCaryophyllene, Spathulenol, and beta-Eudesmol and also including fatty acids, vitamin and newlinehydrocarbon alkanes. Conclusion: The rhizome of H. spicatum and galls of P. integerrima newlinepossess potent anti-tussive and anti-asthmatic activities possible by anti-inflammatory, newlineanti-oxidant and immunomodulator mechanisms. These effects are ascribable to the newlinepresence of non-polar volatile constituents majorly terpenoids.