Antitussive Efficacy and Safety Profile of Ethyl Acetate Fraction ofTerminalia chebula

Rizwan Ul Haq,Khurshed Ayub,Abdul Wahab,Mohsin Raza,Khalid Mehmood,M Azhar Sherkheli,Rafeeq Alam Khan

doi:10.1155/2013/256934

Abstract

Antitussive effects of ethyl acetate fraction of Terminalia chebula on sulphur dioxide (SO2) gas induced cough have been examined in mice. Safety profile of Terminalia chebula was established by determining LD50 and acute neurotoxicity. The result showed that extract of Terminalia chebula dose dependently suppressed SO2 gas induced cough in mice. Terminalia chebula, after i.p. administration at dose level 500 mg/kg, offered maximum cough suppressive effects; that is, number of coughs at 60 min was 12 ± 1.52 (mean ± SEM) as compared to codeine 10 mg/kg; i.p., dextromethorphan 10 mg/kg; i.p., and saline, having frequency of cough 10.375 ± 0.866, 12.428 ± 0.81, and 46 ± 2.61, respectively. LD50 value of Terminalia chebula was approximately 1265 mg/kg, respectively. No sign of neural impairment was observed at antitussive doses of extract. Antitussive effect of Terminalia chebula was partly reversed with treatment by naloxone (3 mg/kg; s.c.) while rimcazole (3 mg/kg; s.c.) did not antagonize its cough suppression activity. This may suggest that opioid receptors partially contribute in antitussive action of Terminalia chebula. Along with this, the possibility of presence of single or multiple mechanisms activated by several different pharmacological actions (mainly anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, spasmolytic, antibacterial, and antiphlegmatic) could not be eliminated.

Highlights

Plants have formed the basis of sophisticated traditional medicine systems that have been in existence for thousands of years [1]
Unani, Kampo, and traditional Chinese medicine based systems continue to play an essential role in primary health care [2]. It has been estimated by World Health Organization (WHO) that approximately 80% of world’s inhabitants, mainly residing in developing countries, rely on traditional medicine, and 85% of traditional medicine involves the use of plant extracts or their active principles
The present study indicates that extract of Terminalia chebula possesses antitussive activity against sulphur dioxide gas evoked cough in mice

Summary

Introduction

Plants have formed the basis of sophisticated traditional medicine systems that have been in existence for thousands of years [1]. Unani, Kampo, and traditional Chinese medicine based systems continue to play an essential role in primary health care [2] It has been estimated by World Health Organization (WHO) that approximately 80% of world’s inhabitants, mainly residing in developing countries, rely on traditional medicine, and 85% of traditional medicine involves the use of plant extracts or their active principles. Frequent reports have been published in the botanical and ethnopharmacological literature suggesting that traditional antitussive plants from Europe, Asia, Africa, and elsewhere may offer significant cough suppressive effects (e.g., see [5,6,7]) Numerous compounds such as codeine, morphine, ISRN Pharmacology noscapine, bromhexine, guaifenesin, ephedrine, cromolyn, and their derivatives, isolated from different plant species, are well-established western medicines for treating cough or underlying pathologies [8]

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