title: In vivo evaluation of the antitussive, expectorant and bronchodilating effects of extract and fractions from aerial parts of Peganum harmala linn.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aerial parts of Peganum harmala Linn (APP) is used as traditional medical herb in Uighur medicine in China, and it is traditionally used for treatment of cough and asthma.The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antitussive, expectorant and bronchodilating effects of extract and fractions (alkaloids and flavonoids) from APP, and to support its folk use with scientific evidence, and lay a foundation for its further researches.
  
  
  METHODS
  APP was extracted with 50% ethanol by reflux, extracts were concentrated in vacuum to afford total extract of APP (EXT). EXT was separated to provide alkaloid fraction (ALK) and flavonoid fraction (FLA) by macroporous resin. Antitussive evaluations were carried out with cough models in mice and guinea pigs induced by ammonia liquor, capsaicin, and citric acid. Phenol red secretion experiments in mice were performed to evaluate the expectorant activity. Bronchodilating activities were evaluated with a bronchoconstrictive challenge induced by acetylcholine chloride and histamine in guinea pigs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all the three antitussive tests, the EXT and ALK could significantly inhibit the frequency of cough, and prolong the cough latent period in animals. High dose of EXT (1650 mg/kg) and ALK (90 mg/kg) in mice and in guinea pigs created therapeutic activities as good as that of codeine phosphate (30 mg/kg). EXT could significantly increase phenol red secretion in mice for 0.64, 1.08 and 1.29 fold averagely at dosages of 183, 550, and 1650 mg/kg, ALK for 0.63, 0.96, 1.06 fold averagely at dosages of 10, 30, and 90 mg/kg, and ammonium chloride (1500 mg/kg, standard expectorant drug) for 0.97 fold, comparing with control group. Aminophylline could dramatically prolong the preconvulsive time for 162.28% in guinea pigs, EXT for 67.34%, 101.96% and 138.00% at dosages of 183, 550, and 1650 mg/kg, ALK for 55.47%, 97.74% and 126.77% at dosages of 10, 30, and 90 mg/kg, and FLA for 84.69%, 95.94% and 154.52% at dosages of 10, 30, and 90 mg/kg, comparing with pretreatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APP is an effective traditional folk medicine for the treatment of cough with potent antitussive, expectorant and bronchodilating activities. The alkaloid fraction is proved to be the most effective components of APP. The alkaloids from APP may be valuable lead compounds for drug development of respiratory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai R&D Centre for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, 199 Guoshoujing Road, Shanghai 201210, China.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai R&D Centre for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, 199 Guoshoujing Road, Shanghai 201210, China.
authors.forename: Yongli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Shuping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Tianhui
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Guofeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Shenglan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Jingxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Jiayi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai R&D Centre for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, 199 Guoshoujing Road, Shanghai 201210, China.
authors.forename: Zhengtao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai R&D Centre for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, 199 Guoshoujing Road, Shanghai 201210, China. Electronic address: wchcxm@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Changhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine; D000641:Ammonia; D000818:Animals; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002211:Capsaicin; D019343:Citric Acid; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005100:Expectorants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D032443:Peganum; D010637:Phenolsulfonphthalein / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000996:Antitussive Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005100:Expectorants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019343:Citric Acid; D000641:Ammonia; D006632:Histamine; D010637:Phenolsulfonphthalein; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002211:Capsaicin
keywords: Alkaloids; Antitussive; Bronchodilating; Expectorant; Flavonoids; Peganum harmala L.