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Table 3 Pharmacological evaluation of medicinal plants

From: Traditional medicinal plants used for respiratory disorders in Pakistan: a review of the ethno-medicinal and pharmacological evidence

Scientific name

Family

Part used

Traditional use

Pharmacological effect

Refs.

Abies pindrow

Amaranthaceae

Leaves

Cough, asthma and other chest infection

Brochoprotective against histamine-induced bronchospasm, cromoglycate-like action on the mast cells and inhibition of sensitization and synthesis of reaginic-type antibodies

[40]

Abrus precatorius

Leguminosae

Root and leaves

Asthma, cough

Anti-allergic and Mast cell stabilizing effect in egg albumin induced degranulation of mast cells

[137, 138]

Achyranthes aspera Linn.

Amaranthaceae

Leaves

Pneumonia and asthma

Antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, mast cell stabilizer and bronchoprotective effect. Inhibits action of histamine, acetylcholine and 5-HT

[139, 140]

Albizia lebbeck Benth

Moraceae

Bark

Flu, cough, lung problems

Bronchodialator, Anti-allergic, Mast cell stabilizing property due to histamine release and cytokine expression of antigen –ige activated mast cells

[141, 142]

Alstonia scholaris

Fabaceae

Bark, Leaves

Asthma

Bronchodialator, anti-tussive effect against sulfur dioxide induced mice coughing and citric acid induced guinea pigs coughing. Anti-asthmatic activity against histamine induced bronchoconstriction

[143, 144]

Althaea officinalis L.

Lythraceae

Flowers, leaves, roots, fruits

Asthma and bronchitis

Cough suppressant activity in citric acid-induced cough reflex

[145]

Artemisia vulgaris

Asclepiadaceae

Leaves

Asthma

Bronchodilator due to anticholinergic and Ca2+ antagonist mechanisms

[146]

Artemisia maritime

Asteraceae

Aerial parts

Cough

Bronchodilator activities mediated possibly through dual blockade of calcium channels and phosphodiesterase

[102]

Adhatoda vasica

Capparidaceae

Whole plant

Cough, bronchitis, asthma

Antiallergic, anti-anaphylactic, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, bronchodilator and bronchoprotective activity

[147,148,149]

Allium cepa

Apiaceae

Stem, leaves

Cough

Mast cell membrane stabilizing activity through inhibitor of mast cell secretion and decrease in the release of tryptase, MCP-1 and IL-6

[150]

Bauhinia variegata

Mimosaceae

Bark, root, buds

Asthma

Mast cell membrane stabilizing effect

[151]

Boerhavia procumbens

Rutaceae

Roots

Cough, asthma

Anti-asthmatic and anti-inflammatory properties in Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) allergic model in rat

[152]

Cynodon dactylon

Ranunculaceae

Leaves

Asthma

Anti-anaphylactic activity and mast cell stabilizing activity

[153]

Emblica officinalis

Euphorbiaceae

Tree

Cold, cough

Anti-tussive activity

[37]

Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent.

Moraceae

Fruit

Cough

Protective effect in lung inflammation and bronchitis

[154]

Bunium persicum

Apiaceae

Seeds

Cold, cough

Anti-histaminic effect

[155]

Calotropis gigantean

Convolvulaceae

All parts

Cough and asthma

Protective effect in anaphylaxis and allergic disorders due to antihistaminic and mast cell stabilizing effect

[156]

Cannabis sativa

Cannabiaceae

Whole plant

Cough

Bronchodilator

[157]

Capparis spinosa L.

Capparidaceae

Flowerl, seeds

Asthma, cough

Antiallergic and antihistaminic effect

Bronchorelaxant effects in histamine-induced bronchospasm

[158]

Capsicum annum L.

Asteraceae

Fruit

Bronchitis

Bronchodilator

[159]

Carum capticum L.

Violaceae

Seeds, leaves and flowers

Cough bronchitis and diarrhea

Bronchodilatory and anti-cholinergic effect, anti-histamine effect

[160,161,162]

Carum carvi L.

Asteraceae

Stem and leaves

Bronchitis, cough

Bronchodilatory and anti-cholinergic effect

[163]

Ephedra gerardiana

Ephedraceae

Stem

Asthma/breathing problem

Anti-asthmatic activity in ovalbumin induced mice model

[164]

Euphorbia hirta

Labiatae

Whole plant

Asthma

Antihistaminic, antiallergic activity and mast cell from degranulation

[165]

Ficus religiosa L.

Papilionaceae

Fruit, leaves

Asthma

Mast cell stabilizing effect in histamine and acetylcholine induced bronchospasm model

[166]

Inula racemosa

Violaceae

Root

Asthma andbronchitis

Anti-histaminic, anti-serotonergic and Mast cell membrane stabilizing activity

[167]

Lepidium sativum

Fabaceae

Shoot

Cough and cold

Bronchodilator activity in histamine and acetylcholine induced bronchospasm model

[168]

Mimosa pudica Linn.

Lamiaceae

Roots, leaves

Asthma

Bronchodilator in histamine induced bronchospasm model

[169]

Nyctanthes arbortristis

Asclepidiaceae

Shrub flowers

Cough

Antihistaminic activity

[170]

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Adiantaceae

Roots

Cough

Demulscent, anti-tussive and anti-asthmatic effects via modulation of th1/th2 cytokines and enhancement of cd4+ cd25+ foxp3+ regulatory t cells in ovalbumin-sensitized mice

[35, 171]

Helianthus annuus

Papilionaceae

Flower, root, seed, leaves

Asthma, bronchial

Anti-asthmatic effect in Ovalbumin-induced mice

[172]

Hyoscyamus niger Linn.

Zygophyllaceae

Whole plant

Asthma, whooping cough

Bronchodilator effect through dual blockade of muscarinic receptors and Ca2+ channels

[173]

Trachyspermum ammi

Malvaceae

Seeds and oil

Bronchitis, asthma and colds, cough

Antiallergic, bronchodilator and spasmolytic effect (calcium antagonist)

[173]

Mangifera indica

Capparaceae

Flowers, leaves, bark and fruits

Asthma, cough

Anti-allergic, anti-asthmatic anti-cholinergic and anti-histamine effect

[174, 175]

Murraya koenigii

Rosaceae

Leaves

Asthma

Mast cell membrane stabilizing activity, anti-histaminic and anti-cholinergic effect

[3, 176]

Nigella sativa

Ranunculacea

Seeds

Whooping cough

Anti-histamine, bronchodilator and anti-asthmatic effect in asthmatic patients

[177,178,179]

Ocimum basilicum

Solanaceae

Leaves and seeds

Bronchitis, cough, cold

Bronchodilator and vasodilator activities through dual blockade of muscarinic receptors and Ca2+ channels

[180]

Onosma bracteatum

Moraceae

Whole plant

Asthma and bronchitis

Anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory action in bronchial hyperreactivity

[181, 182]

Oryza sativa

Salicaceae

Fruit, leaves, stem

Cold

Antianaphylactic effect, anti-inflammatory action by inhibition of histamine release from mast cells

[183, 184]

Papaver nudicaule L.

Papaveraceae

Herb

Cough

Cough and asthma-relieving effects in histamine phosphate induced asthma in guinea pigs

[185]

Portula caoleracea

Asteraceae

Aerial parts

Asthma

Bronchodilator, anti-tussive and anti-asthmatic effect in histamiin induced asthmatic model bronchodilator effect, anti-tussive and anti-asthmatic effect

[156, 186, 187]

Ricinus communis

Leporidae

Leaves

Asthma and cough

Antiasthmatic activity in milk induced leukocytosis and eosinophilic mice

[188]

Salvia officinalis Linn.

Liliaceae

Leaves

Cough, cold

Bronchodilator effect via activation of voltage-dependent K+ channels and inhibition of phosphodiesterase enzyme

[129]

Solanum nigrum L.

Solanaceae

Leaf, berries, flowers, root and stem

Cough, bronchitis

Mast cell stabilizing effect in milk-induced leucocytosis and eosinophilic mice

[189]

Spinacia oleracea L.

Amarylliadaceae

Leaves

Cough

Anti-asthmatic effect in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic model

[190]

Taxus baccata Linn.

Moraceae

Bark

Asthma and bronchitis

Protective effect against bronchoconstriction and bronchial hyperreactivity in e histamine and acetylcholine aerosol induced bronchospasm

[191]

Viola odorata L.

Berberidaceae

Whole Plant

Flu and cold

Anti-asthmatic effect and Bronchodilator

[192, 193]

Artemisia scoparia Waldst. and Kit.

Asteraceae

Whole plant

Cough, chest problems

Anti-asthmatic effect

[194]

Vitexnegundo Linn.

Verbenaceae

Leaves

Flu

Anti-asthmatic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic mast cell stabilizing and bronchodilatory activity

[182]

Cistanche tubulosa

Poaceae

Whole plant

Cough

Mast cell membrane stabilizing activity, anti-allergic effect

[165, 190]

Zingiber officinalis

Asclepiadaceae

Stem, leaves

Flu

Anti-asthmatic anti-inflammatory and protection against LPS induced airway hyperreactivity

[195, 196]

Ziziphus jujuba Mill

Liliaceae

Fruits

Bronchitis

Anti-allergic and anti-anaphylactic activity, anti-histamine action in milk induced eosinophilia and leukocytosis

[197, 198]