The Use of Expectorant Plants in Alternative Medicine

Бюллетень науки и практики / Bulletin of Science and Practice

UDC 615.322                                       

Cough is a pathological condition that develops during inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tracts. It is frequently observed in various seasons, especially in cold weather, and can lead to multiple complications. Productive cough of viral and bacterial origin is considered one of the acute respiratory diseases. This type of cough is accompanied by the expulsion of mucous substances from the bronchi and bronchioles, contributing to the elimination of microbes from the respiratory tract. Depending on the type of disease, the color of the mucus may vary. Increased motility of bronchial epithelial cells facilitates mucus secretion; otherwise, difficulties in breathing, choking, and chest pain may occur. If treatment is not administered properly or the disease progresses to a chronic state, complications may arise [4].

Expectorant plants, inhalation therapy with essential oils, and other phytotherapeutic methods are widely used in treatment. Inhalation therapy softens the upper respiratory tract, promotes mucus expulsion, and reduces cough intensity. Dry and cold air, however, may hinder mucus secretion.

Glycyrrhiza is derived from the ancient Greek term glykos, meaning sweet, and rhiza, meaning root. Glycyrrhiza glabra is known as mulaithi in north India. Glycyrrhiza glabra, also known as licorice and sweet wood, is native to the Mediterranean and certain areas of Asia. Glycyrrhiza glabra belongs to genus Glycyrrhiza and is commonly called as licorice which is available in India. A numbers of traditional healers have claimed the efficacy of Glycyrrhiza species for a variety of pathological conditions as a diuretic, choleretic and used as insecticide and indicated in traditional medicine for coughs, colds and painful swellings. Quince ( Cydonia oblonga ) is a well-known fruit valued not only for its aroma and vitamins but also for its medicinal properties. Its chopped fruits, leaves, and seeds exhibit strong expectorant and anti-cold effects. One mediumsized quince is chopped and boiled in a cup of hot water; the warm infusion is then consumed. Cydonia oblonga commonly known as Quince is rich in useful secondary metabolites such as phenolics, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, sugars, organic acids, and glycosides. A wide range of pharmacological activities like antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular, antidepressant, antidiarrheal, hypolipidemic, diuretic, and hypoglycemic have been ascribed to various parts of C. oblonga . The polysaccharide mucilage, glucuronoxylan extruded from seeds of C. oblonga is used in dermal patches to heal wounds. This review focuses on detailed investigations of high-valued phytochemicals as well as pharmacological and phytomedicinal attributes of the plant [2, 6].

Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra ) is among the most widely used medicinal plants in alternative medicine. Its roots are rich in glycyrrhizin, flavonoids, essential oils, steroids, vitamin C, B vitamins, sugars, pigments, resins, and mucilage, which make it useful in treating various diseases. It is particularly effective in respiratory tract conditions and gastritis. Due to its natural sweetness, licorice is often combined with bitter-tasting herbs in equal proportions (1:1). Infusions made from licorice root should be consumed several times daily: one teaspoon of crushed root is boiled in one cup of water and taken one hour before meals. Pharmaceutical licorice syrups and dry extracts are also widely used in conventional medicine for cough treatment [1, 5].

The WHO recognized medicinal uses as being described in pharmacopeias and in traditional systems of medicine e.g., demulcent for sore throats, expectorant in treatment of cough and bronchial catarrh; prophylaxis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, dyspepsia; anti-inflammatory, rheumatism, arthritis, liver toxicity and to treat tuberculosis and adrenocorticoid insufficiency [7].

Marshmallow ( Althaea officinalis ) is rich in mucilage and starch. Althaea officinalis (A. officinalis) is a medicinal plant consumed in case of lipemia, inflammation of nasal and oral cavities, gastric ulcer, platelet aggregation, cystitis, and irritating coughs. Its antioxidant activity has also been demonstrated. The extract of A. officinalis exhibited strong antioxidant activity in different antioxidant tests. This plant belongs to family Malvaceae, native to Europe and parts of Asia and is cultivated throughout the world. The flowers are terminal and axillary, with short peduncles, each bearing one, two, or three flowers. The petals are pale pink, reddish pink, and rarely, white, in color. Cold infusions prepared from its roots and aqueous extracts from its leaves (containing up to 35% mucilage, glucose, pectin, starch, and fatty acids) are prescribed for upper and lower respiratory tract diseases. Syrups and tablets derived from marshmallow roots possess expectorant and cough-suppressant properties, while syrups from its flowers are also effective [6].

Eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus globulus ) leaves contain up to 80% essential oils, flavonoids, tannins, and other active compounds. Eucalyptus globulus is a shrubby plant or a flowering tree belonging to the family Myrtaceae. Genus eucalyptus is known to contain more than 700 species and has widely been used for various purposes since thousands of years in the history of mankind. Eucalyptus is basically native to Tunisia and Australia but has also been evident to be found in Africa and from tropical to southern temperate regions of America. Genus eucalyptus further consists of four subspecies which are Eucalyptus bicostata, Eucalyptus pseudoglobulus, Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus maidenii among which Eucalyptus globulus is a medium to large sized evergreen and broadleaf tree that can grow upto the height of 70 m and its diameter can be about 4 to 7 feet. Different parts of this plant are nutritionally very important and therapeutically highly valuable due to specific chemical composition as its essential oil contain esters, ethers, carboxylic acids, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols and hydrocarbons along with monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Phytochemical analysis of this plant has revealed that leaf oil contain 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, p-cymene, cryptone and spathulenol. In contrast, essential oil extracted from buds, branches and fruits constitutes α-thujene, 1,8-cineole and aromadendrene as major components. Due to these chemical compounds,

Eucalyptus glabrous is found to be a potential anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, antiinflammatory, analgesic, anti-nociceptive and anti-oxidant agent of nature. Some recent scientific investigations have also revealed that essential oil of Eucalyptus glabrous also have anti-diabatic potentials that enhances its market value due to excessive usage in number of pharmaceutical products of traditional and advanced system of medicines. The increasing awareness of synthetic antioxidants motivated a number of scholars, on a global scale, to identify alternative antioxidants of plant origin, to avoid the unfavorable effects of synthetic antioxidants. the antioxidant potential of different Eucalyptus plant parts (leaves, fruits, roots, and stump wood) as well as their essential oils were formerly reported as being able to be utilized to diminish oxidative stress-associated diseases, and also as food preservatives. They are primarily used for gargling and inhalation, which help to dilate the bronchi and clear the respiratory tract. Oil-based eucalyptus solutions are widely used in inhalation therapy [3, 5].

Conclusion

Since productive cough often has a bacterial origin, the use of alternative medicine should complement pharmacological therapy. Phytotherapeutic products not only help preserve immune function but also protect the liver from the toxic effects of synthetic drugs. This article describes the therapeutic applications of expectorant plants and phytopreparations derived from them. Plants rich in mucilage promote mucus expulsion, while essential oil-containing species demonstrate antiseptic effects by destroying respiratory pathogens. Such remedies may be taken internally or applied in inhalation therapy.