Antitussive activity of the ethanolic extract of Paederia foetida (Rubiaceae family) in non-anaesthetized cats

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the antitussive activity of the ethanolic extract of Paederia foetida (P. foetida) in conscious cats by mechanical stimulation of laryngopharyngeal (LP) and tracheobronchial (TB) mucous areas of airways. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of P. foetida at the oral dose of 200 mg·kg-1 b.w. had a cough-suppressive effect. It caused a significant (p < 0.05) decrease of the number of cough efforts (NE) and frequency of cough (NE.min-1) from both LP and TB areas. The intensity of a cough attack was significantly decreased only during inspirium (IA-). Also a significant (p < 0.05) decrease was observed of the intensity of maximal effort in expirium (IME+) from TB area and inspirium (IME-) from both LP and TB areas. The antitussive activity of the ethanolic extract of P. foetida was lower than that of the classical narcotic antitussive drug - codeine, but similar to that of the non-narcotic antitussive agent dropropizine. The antitussive activity of the ethanolic extract of P. foetida may be connected with its previously demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity.