Study on the Expectorant Activity of Ethanol Extracts from Some Crude Drugs Containing Saponins

Saponin을 함유한 생약추출물의 거담작용에 관한 연구

The effect of ethanol extracts of Gilkyung(Platicodi Radix, Platicodongrandiflorum A, DC), Onji(Polygalae Radix, Polygala tennuifolia Willdenow) and Deoduk(Codonopsis lanceolate Radix, Codonopsis lanceolata) on expectorant activity of rat trachea was investigated. Following treatment of 50% ethanol extract of these medicinal plants (25 mg/rat), the content of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and histamine in tissue was significantly increased. The secretions of acid glycoproteins and the artificially injected phenol red were also increased. However, there was no significant difference except Onji From the histological study through periodic acid Schiff and alcian blue stain, the thickness of inner membrane of acinar glands and the stained glycoproteins on surface of epithelium and on the glands were observed in all the rats trachea treated with extract of medicinal plants. In vitro, the viscosity of mucin solution was slightly decreased with an addition of the extracts. Onji showed the most effective expectorant activity among them at the identical conditions. The mechanism of expectorant activity of these medicinal plants seems to be due to stimulation of secretion and changes of rheological properties of mucus.