Antitussive activity of Vasa Avaleha formulations on sulfur dioxide-induced coughing in mice

Abstract

Objective: Vasa Avaleha is a well-known Ayurvedic compound formulation, known for its usefulness in respiratory disorders like cough, cold, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, etc. Though Adhatoda vasica individually studied for antitussive activity in animals, no scientific evidence was available for Vasa Avaleha. This prompted us to initiate a comparative antitussive activity of Vasa Avaleha and granules of Vasa Avaleha in sulfur dioxide-induced coughing in mice. Materials and Methods: The test drugs were prepared as per classical guidelines and standards in the Departmental Laboratory of the Institute. The test drugs were administered orally at a dose of 1.56 g/kg and tested against sulfur dioxide-induced coughing in mice for 5 min. Results : Vasa Avaleha significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited the sulfur dioxide-induced cough reflexes in mice compared to control group. The effect was comparable to the standard drug Recodex, which contain codeine phosphate and chlorpheniramine maleate. Granules of Vasa Avaleha also produced significant (P < 0.001) decrease in cough reflexes compared to control group. The magnitude of the antitussive effect was more pronounced and significant in Vasa Avaleha treated group in comparison to granules of Vasa Avaleha. Conclusions: From the present study, it is concluded that Vasa Avaleha and granules of Vasa Avaleha may prove as useful and an effective antitussive agent which provides experimental evidence in support of the Ayurvedic ancient claim. Further, Avaleha form of test formulation can be converted to granule form and further evaluated in clinical studies for better human therapeutic uses