EVALUATION OF THE ANTIASTHMATIC ACTIVITY OF AZIMA TETRACANTHA LAM LEAVES IN ANIMAL MODEL

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects approximately 300 million people worldwide. Although wide range of drug is available, the relief provided by them is mainly symptomatic and short lived. Moreover, the side effects of these drugs are also quite disturbing. Hence, a continuous search is on going to identify effective and safe remedies to treat bronchial asthma. Ayurveda is a great Indian tradition and have an important role in discovery of new medicines. There are many natural herbs that can be used for asthma, treatment. Azima Tetracantha Lam is traditionally used to treat asthma. Although these plants possess diverse pharmacological actions, the scientific data on anti-asthmatic actions of this plant has got little attention. An attempt has been made to evaluate antiasthamatic activity of Azima Tetracantha Lam of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of medicinal plant. Different groups of guinea pigs (350-500 g) of either sex were subjected to acetylcholine (n = 5) and histamine-induced (n = 10) airway constriction. AQEAT and ALEAT (200 and 300 mg/kg) showed potent bronchodilator activity on histamine-and acetylcholine-induced airway constriction in guinea pigs. These extract has shown the sub-effective dose produced at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg in all the models. The LD50 of the Aqueous and Alcoholic extracts at a dose of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg are found to be 2262.7 and 1131.4 by oral route. These LD50 values fall within the practically non-toxic range. The present study for the first time indicates anti-asthmatic, acute, sub-acute studies of Azima Tetracantha Lam medicinal plants, confirming their traditional claims. The anti-asthmatic action of Azima Tetracantha Lam could be due to the inhibition of the synthesis, release or action of histamine and acetylcholine effect.