Antiasthamatic Activity of Tinospora Cordifolia Leaves Extract on Ova Induced Airway Inflammation in Rats

Abstract

Introduction: There are several plants used and registered as medicine in alternative systems of medicine but their claim is not yet evaluated scientifically in laboratory animals. Present study was intended to evaluate anantiasthmatic activity of Tinosporacordifolia (TC) leaves extract in rats to confirm anethnomedical claim made by traditional health practitioners.

Objectives: Procurement of a plant TC and its authentication; preparation of extract; preparation of oral solution and its administration in rats; in-vivo activity evaluation in rats for one month; histopathology study; Results discussion and conclusion.

Methods: Plant was obtained from the botanical garden located at Pune and authenticated at Botanical Survey of India, Pune. Dried leaves of a plant were extracted in ethanol using soxhletextracter. Ethanolic extract was dried using rota evaporator and stored at cool and dry place. Extract was orally administered in rats (125mg/kg, 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg) and evaluated using OVA induced allergic airway inflammation, simultaneously taking Montelukast (10mg/kg) as a standard drug. Rats were sacrificed at the end of study and organs were fixed for the histopathology details.

Results: In OVA induced airway inflammation model, TC leaves extract significantly reduces white blood cell count in BALF. It also shows significant decrease in Emphysema, Hemorrhage, Bronchial Hyperplasia and Mononuclear cells in histopathology report. The histo-pathological examination showed milder pathology, reduced inflammatory cell infiltrates and a lower density of Eosinophils in the lungs of treated rats, which further supported our results from the BALF analysis

Conclusions: Significant antiasthmatic activity comparable with standard dose of Montelukast was observed in experimental rats. This confirms anethnomedical claim of a few workers regarding anantiasthmatic activity of this plant possibly through its antihistaminic, antispasmodic, or anti-inflammatory effects.