Expectorant and Antitussive Effect of Hedera helix and Rhizoma coptidis Extracts Mixture

PURPOSE: 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. MATERIALS AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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.

Review of Mesna (Mistabron) as a Mucolytic for Preventing Plumonary complications in Intensive Care Setting.

Impaired mucus clearance or mucus hypersecretion are important feature of many pathological respiratory conditions and in ICU patients. Mesna is a potent mucolytic available as 200 mg/ml solution for neublization and endotracheopulmonary instillation. As effective “mucus clearance” is critical in managing post-operative and other ICU conditions to prevent complications like atelectasis and hypoxia, there is a need to review the clinical results of mucolytic agent Mesna, and its role in mucociliary clearance in critical care patients and in other respiratory conditions.

Eficácia antitussígena de duas formulações fitoterápicas / Antitussive efficacy of two phytotherapics formulations

Avaliaram-se os efeitos antitussígenos-expectorantes de duas formulações fitoterápicas utilizando-se três modelos biológicos diferentes. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar no modelo da secreção das vias aéreas, cobaias no modelo de tosse induzido por ácido cítrico e codornas japonesas na determinação da velocidade de transporte mucociliar. Os animais foram distribuídos em grupos e tratados por via oral com as formulações, com doses equivalentes a 10 vezes a terapêutica recomendada, 9ml.kg-1. O grupo-controle negativo de cada espécie foi tratado com solução fisiológica, 10ml.kg-1. O grupo-controle positivo no modelo de tosse induzida pelo ácido cítrico foi tratado com morfina, 1mg.kg-1, por via subcutânea. No modelo em que foram utilizados ratos e codornas, o grupo-controle positivo recebeu erdosteína por via oral, 600mg.kg-1. Os resultados mostraram que as duas formulações fitoterápicas foram eficazes no reflexo da tosse em cobaias, causando 36,4 por cento e 27,3 por cento, respectivamente, de redução. Nos modelos de secreção das vias aéreas e determinação da velocidade de transporte mucociliar, ambas as formulações não apresentaram eficácia significativa.

The antitussive-expectorant effects of two phytotherapic formulations available in the Brazilian market were evaluated using three different biological models. Each phytotherapic formulation, with different composition, had the same batch number and fabrication date. The trade names of the phytotherapics were: Gripalplus Solução® and Melagrião®. Wistar rats were used in the airway secretion model, guinea pigs in the citric acid-induced cough model and japanese quails in the mucociliary transport rate determination. The animals (one group/formulation) were divided in the two phytotherapic groups and orally treated with the equivalent to ten told the therapeutic recommended dose, which was 9ml.kg-1. Animals of negative control group of each specie were orally treated with 10ml.kg-1 of saline. Positive guinea-pigs citric acid-induced cough model was subcutaneously treated with 1mg.kg-1 of morphine. In the rats airway secretion model and japanese quails mucociliary transport rate, a positive control orally received 600mg.kg-1 of erdosteine. The results showed that both phytotherapic formulations were able to inhibit the guinea pig cough reflex induced by citric acid, being 36.4 percent of reduction in the Gripalplus Solução® group and 27.3 percent in the Melagrião® group. The rats airway secretion and the mucociliary transport rate were not significantly affected by the two phytotherapic formulations.