| INTRODUCTION:
 Breathing,
an action that most of us take for granted,
is for millions of people a painful and
traumatic experience. Without breath we
would be dead, and millions of asthma patients
around the world live this near death experience
every day of their lives. Asthma is an unusual
disease in that it respects no age. It strikes
those most vulnerable, the young and the
aging as well as all across the age spectrum.
It is particularly tragic in infants and
young children, who must live the rest of
their lives fighting for breath.
What is asthma?
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the
bronchial airways. Three things happen during
an asthma attack:
1.The breathing passage becomes sorely
inflamed,
2.The muscles constrict
3.Mucus production increases.
This causes severe wheezing and a feeling
of breathlessness. Breathing becomes labored
and painful.
1. A Proper diet (restrict the intake of
foods that can cause an allergic reaction.)
2. Alternative medicine that does not have
long-term side affects, as do steroids.
3. Yoga for exercising the bronchial pathways.
4. Exercise to keep the lungs in top condition.
5. Avoid areas with high pollen concentrations.
6. Use air purifiers at home, in the car
and at work to remove impurities from the
air.
Most modern offices use carpeting and a
high concentration of electronic equipment.
These lead to a concentration of particulate
matter in closed environments and an increase
of impurities in the air. For those suffering
from asthma, well-ventilated rooms with
little or no electronic equipment are desirable.
Carpeting should be avoided.
There are two kinds of asthma:
1. Acute
2. Chronic
 In
the first case there is an inflammation
of the bronchial tubes. Inflammation of
the cells lining these tubes causes a secretion
of sticky mucus. This mucus blocks the air
pathways and gives a feeling of breathlessness,
coughing is a reaction trying to eliminate
the mucus, and there could be spitting up
of phlegm. Wheezing is also noticed and
occasionally an upper chest pain.
Chronic asthma is characterized by the
excessive secretion of mucus in the bronchi.
The victims are generally middle aged and
older. Chronic bronchitis is
far more prevalent in developing countries
where the indiscriminate use of tobacco
products, unchecked pollution, poorly ventilated
homes using wood fires for cooking and heating,
poor industrial safety standards (particularly
in the paint industry) are some of the innumerable
factors responsible for the high incidence
of chronic asthma. However populations in
industrialized countries of N America and
Europe are also under treat as the consumption
of fossil fuels and deforestation continues
to grow alarmingly.
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THE PRODUCT:
AV ASMO is a proprietary herbal formula
that does not contain any steroids. It is
safe to use over extended periods of time.
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COMPOSITION:
Each Capsule of AV ASMO contains extracts
of :
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RESEARCH:
Adathoda vasica
:
Adhatoda vasica Nees is a shrub widespread
throughout the tropical regions of southeast
Asia. It possesses a wide spectrum of medicinal
properties including positive effects on
inflammatory diseases. The antiinflammatory
activity of the methanol extract, the non-alkaloid
fraction, the saponins and the alkaloids
was evaluated by the modified hen's egg
chorioallantoic membrane test. The alkaloid
fraction showed potent activity at a dose
of 50 microg/pellet equivalent to that of
hydrocortisone while the MeOH extract and
the other fractions showed less activity.
In another study the antitussive activity
of Adhatoda vasica (AV) extract was evaluated
in anaesthetized guinea pigs and rabbits
and in unanaesthetized guinea pigs. AV was
shown to have a good antitussive activity.
Intravenously, it was 1/20-1/40 as active
as codeine on mechanically and electrically
induced coughing in rabbits and guinea-pigs.
After oral administration to the guinea-pig
the antitussive activity of AV was similar
to codeine against coughing induced by irritant
aerosols.
Tylophora asthamatica:
The effects of the proprietory extract,
the petroleum ether fraction, and the aqueous
fraction of the proprietory extract of Tylophora
asthmatica on weight of the adrenal gland
and its functional activities (as evidenced
by its cholesterol and vitamin C content,
plasma steroid, hydroxyproline content in
skin) and pituitary-adrenal axis were studied
using normal, unilaterally adrenalectomised,
dexamethasone-treated (steroid suppression
of ACTH), and stereotaxically hypophysectomised
male albino rats. The extracts showed similar
actions (i.e. stimulation of adrenals as
indicated by increase in weight and decrease
in cholesterol and vitamin C contents).
The plasma steroid level was increased but
skin hydroxyproline level findings were
not conclusive. T. asthmatica was found
to antagonise dexamethasone/hypophysectomy-induced
suppression of pituitary on activity of
the adrenals. It may be concluded that T.
asthmatica may act by a direct stimulation
of the adrenal cortex.
Coleus forskohlii:
A team of researchers led by Tsukawaki M
investigated the relaxant effects of forskolin,
a diterpene derivative isolated from the
roots of Coleus forskohlii, on guinea pig
airway smooth muscle by measuring the isometric
tension of tracheal smooth muscle in vitro
and transcutaneous Po2 during the histamine
inhalation test (HIT) in vivo. Forskolin
(10(-9)-10(-5) M) caused dose-dependent
relaxant effects on resting tone and on
leukotriene C4 (10(-7) M)-, leukotriene
D4 (10(-7) M)-, and carbachol (3 X 10(-6)
M)-induced contraction of tracheal smooth
muscle. Moreover, with propranolol pretreatment
the relaxant effect of forskolin on tracheal
smooth muscle did not change, whereas with
the same pretreatment the relaxant effect
of isoproterenol diminished. Forskolin (10(-8)-10(-6)
M) raised tissue cyclic AMP levels dose-dependently
in tracheal smooth muscle (6.7-359.9 pmol/mg
protein). Forskolin (1 mg/kg) administered
subcutaneously raised the respiratory threshold
of (RT-histamine in the HIT. The determination
of the RT-histamine by measuring tcPo2 was
possible without anesthesia. These results
suggest that forskolin relaxes airway smooth
muscle in guinea pigs in vitro and in vivo
by raising tissue cyclic AMP levels and
that its actions are independent of beta-adrenoceptor.
Inula racemosa:
The proprietory extract of root of Inula
racemosa, was studied for its antiallergic
effect in experimental models of type I
hypersensitivity, viz. egg albumin induced
passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and
mast cell degranulation in albino rats.
The proprietory extract was prepared by
the process of continuous heat extraction.
LD50 of this extract was found to be 2100
+/- 60 mg/kg, i.p. Assessment of protection
against egg albumin induced passive cutaneous
anaphylaxix by different doses of Inula
racemosa was done by giving drug intraperitoneally
or orally for seven days or once only. Mast
cell degranulation studies were done by
using compound 48/80 as degranulation agent
with same dosage schedule. Inula racemosa
(i.p. as well as p.o.) showed significant
protection against egg albumin induced PCA.
Protection against compound 48/80 induced
mast cell degranulation by proprietory extract
of Inula racemosa (single dose) was similar
to that of disodium cromoglycate. The seven
days drug treatment schedule showed greater
protection than disodium cromoglycate intraperitoneally.
The results suggest that Inula racemosa
possesses potent antiallergic properties
in rats.
Ocimum sanctum:
A methanol extract and an aqueous suspension
of Ocimum sanctum inhibited acute as well
as chronic inflammation in rats as tested
by carrageenan-induced pedal edema and croton
oil-induced granuloma and exudate, respectively.
In both test procedures, the anti-inflammatory
response of 500 mg/kg of methanol extract
and aqueous suspension was comparable to
the response observed with 300 mg/kg of
sodium salicylate. Both the extract and
suspension showed analgesic activity in
the mouse hotplate procedure and the methanol
extract caused an increase in the tail-withdrawal
reaction time of a subanalgesic dose of
morphine. Both preparations reduced typhoid-paratyphoid
A/B vaccine-induced pyrexia. The antipyretic
action of the methanol extract and aqueous
suspension was weaker and of shorter duration
than that of 300 mg/kg sodium salicylate.
Oral premedication with the methanol extract
and the aqueous suspension delayed castor
oil-induced diarrhoea in rats
Alpinia Galanga:
The diarylheptanoid 7-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenylhept-4-en-3-one
(HMP) is a naturally occurring phytochemical
found in lesser galangal (Alpinia officinarum).
In the present study, we have demonstrated
the anti-inflammatory properties of this
compound on mouse macrophage cell line (RAW
264.7) and human peripheral blood mononuclear
cells (PBMCs) in vitro. Treatment of RAW
264.7 cells with HMP (6.25-25 microM) significantly
inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated
nitric oxide (NO) production. This compound
also inhibited the release of LPS-induced
proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1
beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF-alpha) from human PB-MCs in vitro.
In addition, Western blotting and reverse
transcription-polymerase chain reaction
analysis demonstrated that HMP decreased
LPS-induced inducible nitric-oxide synthase
(iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein
and mRNA expression in RAW 264.7 cells.
Furthermore, HMP treatment also reduced
nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) DNA
binding induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells.
To elucidate the molecular mechanism for
inhibition of proinflammatory mediators
by HMP (25 microM), we have studied the
effect of HMP on LPS-induced p38 and p44/42
mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).
We observed that the phosphorylation of
p44/42 MAPK in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7
cells was markedly inhibited by HMP, whereas
activation of p38 MAPK was not affected.
These results suggested that HMP from lesser
galangal suppressed the LPS-induced production
of NO, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha and expression
of iNOS and COX-2 gene expression by inhibiting
NF-kappa B activation and phosphorylation
of p44/42 MAPK
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INDICATIONS:
- In smokers cough
- Helps to protect and improve smooth
muscles tissue in lungs
- Helps in preventing coughs
- For asthmatic problems.
- Controlling antigen response and reducing
histamine release.
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DOSAGE:
1 capsule twice daily after meals.
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CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Not to be taken within 90 minutes of using
an inhaler.
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PREGNANCY:
Safe to use under supervision.
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REFERENCES:
- Claeson UP, Malmfors T, Wikman G,Phytother
Res. 2001 Sep;15(6):532-4.
- Dhuley JN, J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Nov
30;67(3):361-5.
- Wagner H, Planta Med. 1989 Jun;55(3):235-41
- GuptaOP et al, Indian J Med Res. 1977
Oct;66(4):680-91
- Uduppa Al, Uduppa SL & Guruswamuy
MN, Planta Med. 1991 Oct;57(5):409-13
- Christenson JT, Thulesius O, Nazzal
MM, Vasa. 1995;24(1):56-61
- Tsukawaki M, Suzuki K, Suzuki R, Takagi
K, Satake T. Lung. 1987;165(4):225-37
- Srivastava S, Gupta PP, Prasad R, Dixit
KS, Palit G, Ali B, Misra G, Saxena RC.
Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1999 Apr;43(2):235-41
- Godhwani S, Godhwani JL, Vyas DS. J
Ethnopharmacol. 1987 Nov;21(2):153-63
- Yadav PN, Liu Z, Rafi MM, J Pharmacol
Exp Ther. 2003 Jun;305(3):925-31. Epub
2003 Mar
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