EVALUATION OF ANTIASTHMATIC ACTIVITY OF DRIED WHOLE PLANT EXTRACT OF LEUCAS ASPERA USING VARIOUS EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODELS 

ABSTRACT

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Limitations of currently available therapies and associated side effects have created an urge to search new and better treatment options. Thus, present study was designed to evaluate the anti-asthmatic activity of L. aspera using various experimental animal models. Methanolic extract of dried whole plant of L. aspera was prepared and used in the dose of 100 mg/kg; (p.o.). Various in-vivo models like histamine induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs, passive paw anaphylaxis in rats and milk induced eosinophilia mice and in vitro model like mesentric mast cell degranulation by egg albumin and inhibition of histamine and acetylcholine induced contraction in guinea pig tracheal chain and ileum preparations were used for evaluating anti-asthamatic activity of the drug. Methanolic extract of the drug showed a significant bronchodilatory and anti-histaminic, anti-inflammatory, mast cell stabilization, and anti-cholinergic activity in histamine induced bronchospasm, passive paw anaphylaxis, degranulation of mesenteric mast cell and histamine and acetylcholine induced contraction in guinea pig cheap trx canada for sale tracheal chain and ileum preparations models respectively. However, significant anti-allergic effect was not observed in milk induced eosinophilia. Thus, methanolic extract of dried whole plant of Leucas aspera have significant antiasthmatic activity.

Key words: Antiasthmatic activity, Leucas aspera, Bronchospasm, Paw anaphylaxis, Mast cell stabilization, Ketotifen.