FUTURE PROSPECTS OF COUGH TREATMENT; HERBAL MEDICINES v/s MODERN DRUGS

Drugs currently used to treat cough are among the most widely used over-the-counter drugs in the world, despite a recent analysis suggesting that there is a little evidence to such drugs produce any meaningful efficacy. The primary action of currently available cough suppressants (opiates, dextromethorphan etc.) is on the central cough pathway. The significant side effects of these agents such as constipation, respiratory depression, dependence, drowsiness and death from this action limit their use in human and thus highly unsatisfactory. There is a current huge unmet need for the development of safe, effective antitussive therapeutic options in the treatment of persistent cough as alternative to existing medications. Medicinal plants are an important source for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds, which have served and continue to serve as lead molecules for the development of new drugs. Thus this review may provide an insight into herbs possessing antitussive and expectorant activity individually or in combination. These findings will be useful towards establishing pharmacopoeial standards for crude drugs as well as for formulations which is gaining relevance in research on traditional medicinal system.