EVALUATION OF AQUEOUS AND METHANOL ROOT EXTRACTS OF CALOTROPIS PROCERA AIT (ASCLEPIADACEAE) FOR ANTI-ASTHMATIC ACTIVITY ON WISTAR RATS AND GUINEA PIG ILEUM

📄 Project Abstract

Asthma, which affects an estimated 300 million people worldwide, is an incurable health disorder of a major public health concern globally. The present orthodox therapy for asthma has several drawbacks including many undesirable side effects and high cost of management (especially challenging for low-income / developing countries). In a bid to develop a cheaper and better antiasthmatic agent with less side effects, this study was carried out to evaluate the effect of aqueous and methanol root extracts of Calotropis procera used in folkloric medicine as an antiasthmatic plant. The study involves In-vitro model on isolated guinea pig ileum preparation. In-vivo models like carageenan-induced leucocytosis in rats, passive paw anaphylaxis, carrageenan induced rat paw edema and haloperidol induced catalepsy. Median Lethal Dose (LD50) determination was conducted using the method as described by Lorke's (1983). In vitro studies on isolated guinea pig ileum preparation was carried out to invest...