title: Anti-asthmatic property and possible mode of activity of an ethanol leaf extract of Polyscias fruticosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms (Araliaceae) is used as a traditional remedy for asthma in Ghana.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to establish the anti-asthmatic property and a possible mode of activity of an ethanol leaf extract of P. fruticosa (PFE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The time (min) for pre-convulsive dyspnea, and time for recovery, after sensitization with 150 μg OVA and induction of bronchospasm with 1% acetylcholine or histamine in normal, and 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg PFE-treated Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs, were recorded. Atropine (0.1 mg), mepyramine (0.1 mg), and PFE (1 mg) effect on a contractile response of 2.0 × 10(-2) μg/ml acetylcholine and 5.8 × 10(-2) μg/ml histamine on the isolated guinea pig ileum was investigated. Cytological and histological studies were conducted using guinea pig peritoneal mast cells and mesenteric cells, respectively, to establish PFE effect on compound 48/80-induced mast cell degranulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PFE (100-500 mg/kg) prolonged the onset of pre-convulsive dyspnea by 76.1-180.2% (p ≤ 0.01-0.001), and decreased recovery time by 71.9-78.5% (p ≤ 0.01-0.001). It also enhanced percentage protection against histamine-induced bronchospasm by 15.8-80.1-fold (p ≤ 0.05-0.01), and decreased percentage recovery time 2.5-3.3-fold (p ≤ 0.05-0.01). PFE significantly inhibited (60.4 ± 8.3%) contractile responses of histamine and produced significant inhibition (56-79%: p ≤ 0.001) of mast cell degranulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PFE has anti-asthmatic, antihistaminic, and mast cell stabilization effect making it useful in traditional asthma management.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology , Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology , Kumasi , Ghana .|b Department of Medical Laboratory Technology , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape-Coast , Cape-Coast , Ghana .
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asumeng Koffuor
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Laboratory Technology , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape-Coast , Cape-Coast , Ghana .
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boye
authors.affiliation: c Department of Optometry , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape-Coast , Cape-Coast , Ghana .
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyei
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology , Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology , Kumasi , Ghana .
authors.forename: Jones
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ofori-Amoah
authors.affiliation: d Department of Pathology , Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital , Kumasi , Ghana , and.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akomanin Asiamah
authors.affiliation: e Department of Chemistry , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape-Coast , Cape-Coast , Ghana.
authors.forename: Atsu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barku
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Laboratory Technology , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape-Coast , Cape-Coast , Ghana .
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Acheampong
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Laboratory Technology , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape-Coast , Cape-Coast , Ghana .
authors.forename: Elikplim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amegashie
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Laboratory Technology , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape-Coast , Cape-Coast , Ghana .
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumi Awuku
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027481:Araliaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Antihistamine; asthma; mast cell stabilization; peritoneal mast cells; pre-convulsive dyspnea