EVALUATION OF ANTI-CHOLINERGIC AND ANTI-ANAPHYLACTIC ACTIVITY OF SHIRISHADI POLYHERBAL COMPOUND

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways with widespread narrowing of air passage which may be relieved spontaneously or as a result of therapy and, clinically it is characterized by paroxysms of dyspnea, cough and wheezing. Inflammation and broncho-constriction are the two major hallmarks in the pathology of Asthma. Shirishadi is a polyherbal drug used in the management of bronchial asthma by Ayurvedic practitioners from decades. Shirisha (Albezzia lebbeck), Nagarmotha (Cyprus rotandus) and Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum) are the ingredient herbs of this compound. Hence, the present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the bronchodilator and anti-anaphylactic activity of Shirishadi Polyherbal compound. Experimental models studied were egg albumin induced anaphylaxis in guinea pigs and Anti-Cholinergic activity was studied on Isolated Frog Heart and Frog Rectus Muscle. The extract produced 30+ 0.23% inhibition in maximum contraction produced by Acetylcholine which is much less than that produced by standard drug (99.9%), moreover the dose of extract that produced the visible effect is much higher than that used for therapeutic purpose suggesting that antiasthmatic effect of drug is not due to Acetylcholine antagonism activity. Neither Acetylcholine efficacy nor its potency decreases significantly with increasing dose of drug. Drug increased the cardiac tone and stimulate the cardiac contractility but unable to prevail over complete inhibition of heart rate produced by Acetylcholine. The drug produced significant protection against egg albumin induced anaphylactic shock characterized by decrease in intensity and delay in the development of symptoms of dyspnoea, asphyxia and collapse. All these findings reveal the bronchodilator and anti-anaphylactic activity of Shirishadi compound indicating its beneficial use in asthma.