INVESTIGATION FOR POTENTIAL EFFECT OF NYCTANTHES ARBORTRISTIS IN EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED ASTHMA

Aim of study: In this study, we investigate the potential effect of Nyctanthes arbortristis leaf extract in experimentally induced asthma in rats. The leaf has shown the prominent effect against the inflammation.

Materials and methods: Asthma was induced experimentally in rats using Sephadex and in another model croton oil was applied on ear of rats; this model also mimics the biological event similar to asthma.

Results: The results demonstrated that the Sephadex induced lung inflammation and croton oil induced ear edema both were palliated by the Nyctanthes arbortristis leaf extract given to the rats. The prophylactic effect of the leaf extract was evaluated by the lung weight and histological examination and investigation of oxidative and anti-oxidant markers in lung tissues.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated for the first time that ethanolic leaf extract of Nyctanthes arbortristis (ENAL), was effective in prevention of experimentally induced asthma in rats. In vivo data indicated that ENAL were as much effective as Fluticasone propionate i.e. standard drug used to treat asthma which might be due to regulation of inflammation and anti-oxidant property. This study gave us good scientific evidence that the ENAL is prophylactic agent for the asthma.