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. 2011 Apr 19;16(4):3360-70.
doi: 10.3390/molecules16043360.

Antitussive activity of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax extracts and improvement in lung function via adjustment of multi-cytokine levels

Wensheng Pang  1 , Siding Lin, Qiwen Dai, Hongcheng Zhang, Juan Hu
Affiliations

Antitussive activity of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax extracts and improvement in lung function via adjustment of multi-cytokine levels

Wensheng Pang et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax is one of the most widespread herbal and healthcare products in China. Extensive clinical use has shown that it has functions which "strengthens qi and generates saliva, moistens the lung and relieves cough". The ethyl acetate fraction extracted from the roots of the plant Pseudostellaria heterophylla exhibited a dose-dependent antitussive effect between 100 to 500 mg/kg. At a dose of 400 mg/kg, the ethyl acetate fraction treatment markedly prolonged the cough latent period and reduced the number of coughs in a guinea pig model induced by citric acid. Fall lung airway resistance, rise in dynamic lung compliance, decreased serum levels of IL-8, GM-CSF, TNF-α, and ET-1 in rat model of stable phase chronic obstructive pulmonary disease induced by cigarette smoke exposure were also observed. These results suggest that ethyl acetate fraction has antitussive activity related to its improvement in lung function via attenuation of airway inflammation by adjustment of multi-cytokine levels.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effect of extracts of Pseudostellaria heterophylla at the dose 400 mg/kg on respiratory waves of guinea pigs recorded by a pressure transducer connected to a biology signal collection processing system: (A) citric acid induced. (B) codeine phosphate + citric acid. (C) PEF + citric acid. (D) EtOAcF + citric acid. (E) n-BOHF + citric acid. (F) EtOHE + citric acid. (G) WE + citric acid; (H) Guilong Kechuanning + citric acid.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cough inhibition of vehicle control (VC), positive codeine phosphate (CP), PEF (PE), EtOAcF (EL), n-BuOHF (BT), EtOHE (EE), WE (WT) at 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg (i.g). **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05, n = 6.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Latent period of cough of VC, positive codeine phosphate (CP), PEF (PE), EtOAcF (EL), n-BuOHF (BT), EtOHE (EE), WE (WT) at 400 mg/kg (i.g). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, compared with vehicle control after administration; # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01, compared with data before administration, n = 6.
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