title: Investigation of anti-asthmatic potential of Kanakasava in ovalbumin-induced bronchial asthma and airway inflammation in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kanakasava is an Indian traditional Ayurvedic formulation containing Datura (Datura metel), Vasaca (Adhatoda vasica), Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa) and Grape (Vitis vinifera) extracts as major constituents and used to treat pulmonary diseases including coughing, breathing difficulty and asthma. The present study was designed to assess the safety and therapeutic efficacy of Kanakasava against ovalbumin-induced bronchial asthma and related airway inflammation in rats due to lack of evidence based therapeutic efficacy data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male wistar rats were sensitized with allergen (ovalbumin, 40mg/rat+aluminum hydroxide, 2.0mg/rat) and treated orally with standard dexamethasone (2.5mg/kg, b.w.) or Kanakasava (1.23 and 2.46ml/kg, b.w.) from day 1 to day 28. Inflammatory markers, including cell counts and cytokines such as interleukins (IL-4, IL-5, IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), leukotriene (LTD-4), immunoglobulin (IgE), nitric oxide and nitrite levels in both blood and broncheo alveolar lavaged fluid (BALF) were analyzed. Abdominal mesentery was studied histologically for mast cell degranulation, whereas lung functions were investigated by spirometer. Method was also developed to quantify gallic acid and ethyl gallate content in Kanakasava by HPTLC for its quality control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the rats exhibited mortality and Kanakasava was found to be safe at the tested doses. Treatment with Kanakasava significantly (P<0.01) reversed elevated levels of IgE, cytokines, nitrites and influx of eosinophils and neutrophils in blood and BALF. These findings were further supported by the significant improvement in lung functions (P<0.01) and suppression (P<0.01) of degranulation of mast cells. The content of gallic acid and ethyl gallate in Kanakasava was found to be 1.94% and 0.98%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrated the preventive effect of Kanakasava in allergen induced model of asthma providing scientific basis for its traditional use in Ayurveda, since long time.
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110062, India.
authors: Poonam
authors: P
authors: Arora
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110062, India. Electronic address: shansari189@rediffmail.com.
authors: S H
authors: SH
authors: Ansari
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110062, India.
authors: Varisha
authors: V
authors: Anjum
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR), New Delhi, India.
authors: Rajani
authors: R
authors: Mathur
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110062, India. Electronic address: sahmad_jh@yahoo.co.in.
authors: Sayeed
authors: S
authors: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015848:Interleukin-5; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010047:Ovalbumin
keywords: Airway inflammation; Allergen; Ayurveda; Bronchial asthma; Kanakasava