ANTIASTHMATIC EFFECT OF ROOTS OF CLITOREA TERNATEA LINN

Clitoria ternatea L. (Family: Fabaceae) is being used in traditional medicine for the treatment of severe bronchitis and asthma. So the aim of study was to evaluate antioxidant and antiasthmatic activity of ethanol extract of Clitoria ternatea roots. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the histamine-induced bronchospasm of alcoholic extract of Clitorea ternatea Linn. roots in experimental animals. Bronchodilator activity of aqueous extract of C. ternatea studied on the histamine aerosol induced bronchospasm in wister rats. Treatment with alcoholic extract of clitorea ternatea (400 mg/kg, p.o) showed significant protection against histamine aerosol induced bronchospasm in wister rats. The results of the histamine-induced bronchospasm paradigms demonstrate bronchospasmolytic activity of ethanolic extract of clitorea ternatea (400 mg/kg, p.o.). Clitorea ternarea shows 47.45 % protection against histamine induced bronchoconstriction in rats. These results suggest that aqueous extract of C. tenatea has not only bronchodilating activity but also decreases bronchial hyperreactivity by decreasing the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the airway and inhibition of release of histamine like mediators from the mast cell by stabilizing it. Clitoria ternatea is diuretic and laxative, a decoction is given as a demulcent in the irritation of the bladder and urethra. It is useful in ophthalmopathy, bronchitis, asthma tubercular glands, hemicrania, burning sensation, starngury, helminthiasis, inflammation, vitiated condition of pitta vicerormegaly and fever.