Some Important Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Asthma - a Review

Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Folk (Tribal) medicines are the major systems of indigenous medicines. Over three-quarters of the world population relies mainly on plants and plant extracts for health care. Unlike many diseases, which can be attributed to the life style of modern man, asthma is an ancient illness. Mast cells play an important role in some type of allergic reaction because the antibody that causes the allergic reaction that is Ig E have the mast cells which contains about a thousand tiny granules. These granules are loaded with dozens of potent chemicals or mediators, the most powerful in which are histamine and a newly discovered group called leukotrienes. From the present laboratory, there are number of medicinal plants have been reported for antihistaminic/anti-asthmatic activities. Some of them are Achyranthes aspera, Tephrosia purpurea, Dolichos lablab, Eclipta alba, Jasminum sambac, Balanites aegyptiaca, Viscum album, Tridex procumbens, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Cassia fistula. Recently, Soni (2009-2011) has reported 100% inhibition of Leukotrienes (which cause asthma) from the EtoAC fraction of Bacopa monnieri extract. It is suggested that formulation and patent of the reported medicinal plants is mandatory for further use against asthma and if possible, clinical trials should be done of these plants for their appropriate use.