title: Expectorant and antitussive effect of Hedera helix and Rhizoma coptidis extracts mixture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the additive effect of the Hedera helix (HH) and Rhizoma coptidis (RC) extracts mixture on antitussive and expectorant activities in animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expectorant assay was performed with phenol red secretion in mice trachea. Mice or guinea pigs were randomly divided into groups of 8 each, including negative and positive control groups. After gastric administration of the test extracts in mice, 2.5% phenol red solution (0.2 mL) was intraperitoneally injected. Trachea was dissected and optical density of tracheal secretion was measured. After gastric administration of the test extracts in guinea pigs, the antitussive activities were assessed using a citric acid-induced cough measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extracts of HH and RC significantly increased tracheal secretion and inhibited cough. The mixture of HH and RC extracts in a 1:1 concentration at a dose of 200 mg/kg showed a more potent effect on phenol red secretion (25.25±3.14) and cough inhibition (61.25±5.36) than the individual use of each extracts [phenol red secretion; HH 13.39±4.22 (p=0.000), RC 20.78±2.50 (p=0.010), cough inhibition; HH 9.89±4.14 (p=0.010), RC 30.25±7.69 (p=0.000)]. A 3:1 ratio mixture of HH to RC demonstrated an optimal expectorant effect (p<0.001), and this mixture showed expectorant and antitussive effects in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence for antitussive and expectorant effect of a 3:1 mixture of HH and RC, which may be a useful therapeutic option for respiratory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, International St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kee Jae
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Research & Development Center, Ahngook Pharmacy Co. Ltd., Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-June
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang Ro
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ydrhinol@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Kyung-Su
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D000089042:Coptis chinensis; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000431:Ethanol; D005100:Expectorants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D035981:Hedera / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000996:Antitussive Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005100:Expectorants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol; C107393:Coptidis rhizoma extract
keywords: Hedera helix; Rhizoma coptidis; antitussive agent; expectorant
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