Experimental Study on the Expectorant,Antitussive and Antiasthmatic Effects of Radix Millettiae Speciosae

Objective To observe the expectorant,antitussive and antiasthmatic effects of Radix Millettiae Speciosae (RMS).Methods Expectorant effects were evaluated by measuring the excretion of phenol red in mice trachea and by observing the pigeon tracheal ciliary movement.Antitussive effects were observed through mice cough test induced by ammonia water steaming and through guinea pigs cough test induced by citric acid.Antiasthmatic actions in guinea pigs were observed by histamine and acetylcholine ultrasonic atomization test.Results RMS increased the excretion of phenol red from mice trachea,promoted the movement of prepared Chinese ink in the pigeon trachea,decreased the frequency of mice cough induced by ammonia and guinea pigs cough induced by citric acid,prolonged the cough latent period,and inhibited the guinea pigs asthma induced by histamine and acetylcholine solution(P0.05 or P0.01).Conclusion RMS shows certain expectorant,antitussive and antiasthmatic effects.