EVALUATION OF BRONCHODILATOR ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF FLOWER BUD OF SYZYGIUM AROMATICUM L. IN HISTAMINE INDUCED BRONCHOSPASM IN GUINEA PIGS

Abstract

Syzygium Aromaticum  L. ( Clove)  is  most widely used across the globe especially in asian countries  as  spice and flavoring agent for its taste and aroma. Many patients with asthma use herbal therapies in addition to beta-agonists or steroids, often without proven efficacy or unknown mechanisms of action or drug interaction.  Evaluation of both therapeutic and possible effects of isolated components of herbal therapies gain it’s importance in the research field. Syzygium Aromaticum L. (clove) is used in traditional herbal medicine as antimicrobial, antispasmodic and carminative action but bronchodilator activity remained unexplored. Guinea pigs are most suitable experimental animal for respiratory system highly sensitive to histamine, a potent bronchoconstrictor. So, we designed the study to evaluate the bronchodilator activity of flower bud of Syzygium Aromaticum L. (clove) in histamine induced bronchospasm model in guinea pigs. 

Method:  After taking Institutional Animal Ethics Committee approval, 36 male guinea pigs weighing 300 -400 g were randomly divided into six groups. Group 1 received distilled water, while Group 2 was given formoterol (1.55 μg/kg) + budesonide (0.02 mg/kg). Guinea pigs in Groups 3 and 5 were given clove (150 and 300 mg/kg, respectively), while Groups 4 and 6 received clove (150 and 300 mg/kg, respectively) in addition to formoterol (1.55 μg/kg) and budesonide (0.02 mg/kg). After administration of 0.5 % w/v histamine inhalation on day 0 and day 14 pre-convulsion time was noted. Mean pre- convulsion time difference ( T₂– T₁ ) and   percentage protection in each group was calculated using formulae: