Structural features and in vivo antitussive activity of the water extracted polymer from Glycyrrhiza glabra.

Antitussive drugs are amongst the most widely used medications worldwide; however no new class of drugs has been introduced into the market for many years. Herein, we have analyzed the water-extracted polymeric fraction (WE) of Glycyrrhiza glabra. This arabinogalactan protein enriched fraction, ≥ 85% of which gets precipitated with Yariv reagent, consisted mainly of 3- and 3,6-linked galactopyranosyl, and 5- and 3,5-linked arabinofuranosyl residues.

In vivo anti-tussive activity and structural features of a polysaccharide fraction from water extracted Withania somnifera.

Aim Of The Study: Anti-tussive drugs are amongst the most widely used medications worldwide; however no new class of drugs has been introduced into the market for many years. The present study aims at evaluating the structural features and in vivo anti-tussive activity of a polysaccharide fraction from water extracted Withania somnifera.

Materials And Methods: Herein, we have analyzed water extracted material of Withania somnifera using chemical, chromatographic, spectroscopic and biological methods.

Chemopreventive effects of anastrozole in a premenopausal breast cancer model.

Background: Monotherapy with aromatase inhibitors has no established role in premenopausal breast cancer in women and is an area of future exploration.

Materials And Methods: In this study, chemopreventive effects of anastrozole in the model of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced premenopausal mammary carcinogenesis in female rats were evaluated. Anastrozole was dietarily administered at two concentrations: 0.

Effect of nitric oxide synthases inhibitors on exogenous irritant-induced bronchial hyper-reactivity in guinea pigs.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important endogenous mediator involved in many biological functions in both physiological and pathological conditions. Many of studies suggest that high level of NO may play a role in the pathogenesis of various diseases including respiratory diseases with bronchial hyper-reactivity (BHR). The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between NO production and BHR.

Enalapril and diltiazem co-administration and respiratory side effects of enalapril.

A persistent, chronic dry cough is the most common adverse effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors therapy. The mechanism of this respiratory adverse effect is related to the inhibition of ACE and the accumulation of bradykinin, substance P, prostanoids and other inflammatory neuropeptides in the airways. The aim of this study was to follow the relationship between 15-day administration of enalapril and the defense reflexes (cough and bronchoconstriction) of the airways in experimental animals, as well as the possibility of their pharmacological restriction with simultaneous diltiazem administration.

A biologically active fructan from the roots of Arctium lappa L., var. Herkules.

From the roots of Arctium lappa L., var. Herkules a low-molecular-weight fructofuranan of the inulin-type has been isolated by water extraction and ethanol precipitation, followed by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration of the crude precipitate.

Antitussive activity of the fruit extract of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Euphorbiaceae).

The antitussive activity of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (E. officinalis, Fam.

Antitussive activity of a glucuronoxylan from Rudbeckia fulgida compared to the potency of two polysaccharide complexes from the same herb.

An alkali-extracted low-molecular glucuronoxylan and two water-extractable polysaccharide complexes isolated from various parts of Rudbeckia fulgida were tested for antitussive activity on mechanically induced cough in nonanaesthetized cats. Glucuronoxylan consisted of a (1-->4)-linked beta-D-xylopyranosyl backbone with about 18% of 4-0-methyl-D-glucuronic acid attached to 0-2 of the chain xylose residues. The polysaccharide complexes differed from each the other regarding the in qualitative and quantitative composition of the sugar components.

Mucolytics and antioxidant activity.

We investigated effects of the mucolytics ambroxol and N-acetylcysteine on airways reactivity evoked by histamine in guinea pigs exposed to toluene vapors. We did not find significant changes in reactivity of tracheal smooth muscle from animals treated with mucolytics compared to the control group. However, the administration of ambroxol and N-acetylcysteine caused a significant decrease in lung tissue reactivity.

ACE-inhibitors and defence reflexes of the airways.

The group of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors is one of the drugs of choice for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart disease. However, it has been reported that in some of patients ACE-inhibitors induce hyperreactivity of the airways with occurrence of a persistent dry cough, dyspnoe and wheezing. We supposed that the mechanism of these hyperreactivity is connected to accumulation of bradykinin, tachykinins and other inflammatory mediators in the airways.

Effects of irritants on airways reactivity.

The authors observed reactivity changes of airways smooth muscles after exposure of experimental animals to toluene and hyperoxia. The pretreatment with antioxidants did not prevent these changes.

[The antitussive effect of theophylline].

Theophylline belongs to a group of medicaments used in asthma therapy. It yields an antiinflammatory effect, reduces allergic reactions, and in respiratory airways it improves the mucociliary clearance and eminently dilates smooth muscles. Therefore, the main aim of our interest is its effect on the cough reflex.

[Antitussive action of extracts and polysaccharides of marsh mallow (Althea officinalis L., var. robusta)].

The complex extract and the polysaccharide isolated from the roots of marsh mallow were tested for antitussive activity in unanaesthetized cats of both sexes. Cough was elicited by mechanical stimulation of laryngopharyngeal and tracheobronchial mucous area of the respiratory system with a Nylon fibre (diameter 0.35 mm).

Relationship between the antitussic and analgesic activity of substances.

The authors studied relationship between the antitussic and analgesic activity of substances. The antitussic effect of codeine, tilidine, tramadol and pentazocine has been studied in nonanesthetized healthy cats. The drugs except tilidine, were administered intraperitoneally in a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight.

Objective assessment of cough suppressants under normal and pathological experimental conditions.

The influences of the antitussive activity of glaucine were studied in 56 non-anaesthetized cats under normal and pathological conditions. Cough was induced by mechanical stimulation of the airways with a nylon fibre. The authors found that if glaucine was administered at a dose of 5.

[Action of medazonamid on cough in an experiment].

The anti-cough effect of medazonamide was studied on 40 nonanesthetized cats. The cough was induced by mechanical irritation of the laryngopharyngeal and tracheobronchial mucous of the respiratory tract. It was shown that the intraabdominal administration of medazonamide in 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg doses has less anti-cough effect than codeine in the given conditions.