In vivo evaluation of the anti-asthmatic, antitussive and expectorant activities of extract and fractions from Elaeagnus pungens leaf.

The leaf of Elaeagnus pungens thunb. (Family Elaeagnaceae) has been documented as an effective herb for the treatment of asthma and chronic bronchitis in traditional Chinese medicine. This study was aimed at evaluating the anti-asthmatic, antitussive and expectorant activities in vivo of the ethanolic extract and fractions from the leaf of Elaeagnus pungens. The results showed that the 70% ethanolic extract increased the preconvulsive time of asthma induced by the combination of histamine and acetylcholine chloride in guinea pigs at the medium dose of 1.379 g/kg. The water fraction significantly prolonged the preconvulsive time (P<0.05) in guinea pigs, lengthened the latent period of cough (P<0.05) as well as decreased the cough frequency caused by citric acid in guinea pigs (P<0.01) and enhanced tracheal phenol red output in mice (P<0.01). Moreover, the petroleum ether fraction significantly reduced the cough frequency induced in guinea pigs (P<0.01) and improved tracheal phenol red output in mice (P<0.01). It indicated that the petroleum ether fraction and the water fraction of Elaeagnus pungens leaf were effective on anti-asthmatic, antitussive and expectorant activities, which supplied for further research on chemical constituents and pharmacological mechanisms.