ANTITUSSIVE AND EXPECTORANT EFFECTS OF EXTRACTS, SOLUBLE FRACTIONS AND CRUDE POLYSACCAHRIDES, ACUTE AND SUBACUTE TOXICITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT FROM SECURIDACA LONGEPEDUNCULATA FRESEN (POLYGALACEAE) ROOTS IN ANIMAL MODEL

Ntondele L.M. and Cimanga K.R.*

ABSTRACT

Securidaca longepedunculata roots Fresen (Polygalceaea) is used in Congolese traditional medicine as a remedy in aqueous decoction form to treat different coughs and bronchial asthma. In the present study, antitussive and expectorant activities of aqueous (decoction) and 80% methanol extracts, chloroform, etylacetate, n-butanol and residual aqueous soluble fractions from the partition of aqueous extract and crude polysaccharides were investigated by different classical models using different stimulus like amomonium hydroxide liquor, citric acid, sulphur dioxide and capsaicin-induced cough in animal model. The antitussive activity was evaluated by the appreciation of effects of tested samples and Codeine phosphate used as antitussive reference drugs on the number of cough frequencies and latent period of cough compared to negative control receiving 3% Tween 80 in their treatment while the expectorant activity was based on the capacity of tested samples to increase de production of tracheal phenol red. Results revealed that all tested samples from Securidata longepedunculata roots, at oral administered doses of 100 and 200 mg body weight, showed statistically and significant dose-dependent reduction of the number of cough frequencies and the latent period of cough caused by the exposure of treated rats to ammonia, citric acid in guinea pig, sulphur dioxide and capsaicin compared to negative control in all antitussive in vivo and exerted thus their antitussive activity. Similary, extracts and soluble fractions from Securidaca. longepedunculata increase significantly tracheal phenol red and showed their expectorant activity compared to negative control. 80% Methanol extract showed high activities compared to aqueous extract and ethylacetate soluble fraction exhibited high activities compared to other soluble fractions like chloroform, n-butanol and residual aqueous. Both activities of extracts and soluble fractions from were weak compared to Codeine phosphate used as reference antitussive product.

Keywords: Securidaca longepenculata, Polygalaceae, roots, extracts, soluble fractions, antitussive and expectorant activities.