PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON ANTI-ASTHMATIC AND ANTI-ANAPHYLACTIC ACTIVITIES OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF LITSEA CUBEBA(LOUR.) PERS.

The bronchodilating and anti-anaphylactic activity of the essential oil extracted from the fresh fruits of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. was investigated in laboratory. The oil (90 μl/ml) was found to produce a relaxing effect on guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle with or without being contracted by histamine or acetylcholine in vitro and to increase(0.1 μl/ml) the perfusion rate of isolated lung preparation of guineapig from 21.2±2.8 to 38.3±6.3 ml/min(P<0.025). The oil, administrated orally, intraperitoneally or by inhalation showed prominent protective effect against bronchial asthma induced. by inhalation of bronchoconstrictors in conscious guinea-pigs. The oil was shown to inhibit the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in rats, and the inhibition obtained was 47.4±4.5% that of the control. In guineapigs sensitized with egg albumin, significant inhibitory effects both on anaphylactic shock induced by inhalation of antigen aerosol in vivo and on spasmodic contraction of guinea-pig ileum induced by antigen challenge in vitro were observed. Besides, the oil (30 μl/ml) was found to block and counteract the contractive activity of SRS-A on the isolated guinea pig ileum.