The in vivo expectorant and antitussive activity of extract and fractions from Reineckia carnea

Aim of study: To evaluate the potential expectorant and antitussive activity of a traditional Chinese medicine. Materials and methods: The water extract and four fractions of the aerial part of Reineckia carnea were orally administrated to coughing mice induced by ammonium hydroxide and mice injected with phenol red, respectively, to investigate their medification effect on coughing and mucus scretion. Results and discussion: 90% Ethanol fraction significantly lengthened the latent period of cough and decreased cough frequency caused by ammonium hydroxide at the dose of 0.372 g/kg (p < 0.05). Sixty percent ethanol fraction reduced the cough frequency as well as the mucus secretion from mouse tracheas obviously at the dose of 0.570 g/kg (p < 0.05) by measuring the tracheal output of phenol red in mice. The medication effects in multiple doses of the active fractions were then performed and it has been proved that the 60% ethanol and 90% ethanol fraction were curatively effective on expectoration and coughing, respectively both at the high and middle dose, which supplied proofs for the further research on chemical constituents in both of two effective fractions. Crown Copyright (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.