The clinical pharmacology of a herbal asthma cigarette.
1 Herbal preparations containing atropine-like alkaloids are marketed as proprietory asthma remedies, typically in the form of cigarettes. 2 This randomised, cross-over study compares in six healthy volunteers the pharmacological effects caused by smoking a standard, medium tar, tobacco cigarette or a herbal cigarette. 3 Smoking a herbal cigarette is associated with a significant fall in heart rate consistent with the systemic response to atropine-like alkaloids and a significant increase in peak expiratory flow rate consistent with the bronchodilator effect of reduced cholinergic activity. 4 Smoking a herbal cigarette seems analogous to the inhalation of ipratropium by aerosol for a local bronchodilator effect.
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects; D012907:Smoking