A pilot study on the clinical efficacy of Solanum xanthocarpum and Solanum trilobatum in bronchial asthma

doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00160-3

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Volume 66, Issue 2, August 1999, Pages 205-210

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00160-3 Get rights and content

Abstract

Solanum xanthocarpum and Solanum trilobatum are widely used to treat respiratory diseases in southern Indian traditional medicine (Siddha). A pilot study was undertaken to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of a single dose of the above herbs in mild to moderate bronchial asthma. The respiratory functions (FVC, FEV₁, PEFR and FEF_25–75%) were assessed by using a spirometer prior to and 2 h after oral administration of 300 mg powder of whole plant of either S. xanthocarpum or S. trilobatum. Standard bronchodilator drugs, salbutamol (4 mg) and deriphylline (200 mg) were used for comparison. Treatment with either S. xanthocarpum or S. trilobatum significantly improved the various parameters of pulmonary function in asthmatic subjects. However, the effect was less when compared to that of deriphylline or salbutamol. No untoward effects were reported during the study. The results of the present study confirm the traditional claim for the usefulness of these herbs in bronchial asthma. More detailed studies are required to investigate the mechanism of action and therapeutic utility of S. xanthocarpum and S. trilobatum.

Introduction

Among several respiratory diseases affecting man, bronchial asthma is the most common disabling syndrome. Nearly 7–10% of the world population suffer from bronchial asthma. Despite the availability of a wide range of drugs, the relief offered by them is mainly symptomatic and short lived. Moreover the side effects of these drugs are also quite disturbing. Hence a continuous search is on going to identify effective and safe remedies to treat branchial asthma. It is pertinent to note that Solanum trilobatum and Solanum xanthocarpum, belonging to the Solanaceae, are widely used by practitioners of the Siddha system of medicine in southern India to treat respiratory diseases (Nadkarni, 1954). The powder of whole dried plant or a decoction are used for this purpose. The objective of the present study was to clinically evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerance of S. trilobatum and S. xanthocarpum in bronchial asthma after a single dose administration.

Section snippets

Patients, materials and methods

The patients attending the allergy and asthma clinic at Government General Hospital, Madras who consented to participate were included in the study.

The study groups comprised of both males and females in the age group ranging from 18 to 50 years. The detailed history of illness was recorded and thorough physical examinations were carried out.

FVC

The mean value of FVC increased significantly after treatment with a single dose of the drugs investigated (Table 1). The post treatment values were almost comparable for all the drugs. The mean predicted value of FVC in the test subjects are also indicated in Table 1. It can be seen that the predicted values were not attained with any of the treatment groups after a single dose. There was a marked increase in the percentage of predicted value of FVC after treatment with different drugs. The

Discussion

Airway obstruction caused by bronchospasm, mucosal edema and mucus secretion is responsible for the clinical manifestation of bronchial asthma. The obstruction is mainly expiratory as usually demonstrated by a reduction in PEFR and FEV₁. Measurement of FVC and its fractions are important physiological parameters which reveal the nature and severity of the underlying pulmonary disease. These measurements are helpful in the assessment of response to treatment with bronchodilators in bronchial

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Short communicationA pilot study on the clinical efficacy of Solanum xanthocarpum and Solanum trilobatum in bronchial asthma

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Patients, materials and methods

FVC

Discussion

New Tables for multiple comparison with a control

Biometrics

Respiratory function tests for a clinician

Journal of Internal Medicine

Short communication
A pilot study on the clinical efficacy of Solanum xanthocarpum and Solanum trilobatum in bronchial asthma