In-vivo Antitussive Activity of Cressa cretica Linn. using Cough Model in Rodents

Cressa cretica Linn. Voigt. (Convolulaceae), has also been extensively used to get relief from asthma and cough by the indigenous people of India. In the present study the antitussive effect of the plant was evaluated in two different experimental models. The antitussive effect of aerosols of two different concentrations (2.5%w/v, 5%w/v)of methanolic extract of Cressa cretica Linn. (CME), codeine(0.03g/ml), and normal saline were tested by counting the numbers of coughs produced due to aerosols of citric acid 10 min after exposing the male guinea pigs to aerosols of different solutions (n=6). In another set of experiment CME was investigated for its therapeutic efficacy on a cough model induced by sulfur dioxide gas in mice. The results showed significant reduction of cough number obtained in the presence of both concentrations of CME and codeine. The antitussive effect on guinea pigs of higher concentration of CME was significantly (p<0.01) greater than those of lower concentration and the prototype antitussive agent codeine phosphate (p<0.01). It exhibited significant anti tussive activity as that of codeine phosphate, when compared with control in a dose dependent manner in sulfur dioxide gas induced cough model. The extract at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. showed inhibition of cough by 22.1, 34.35 and 55.44 % within 90 min of performing the experiment.