Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTIHISTAMINIC ACTIVITY OF BENINCASA HISPIDA FLOWER AQUEOUS EXTRACT FOR HISTAMINE AEROSOL INDUCES BRONCHOCONSTRICTION IN GUINEA PIG.

Kanakam Vijayabhaskar* and Puram Paramesh

ABSTRACT

The objective of present study is to evaluate the antihistaminic activity of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. Commonly known as ash gourd belonging to Cucurbitaceae family, is employed as a main ingredient in Kusmanda lehyam in Ayurvedic system of medicine, has been used in India for centuries for various ailments such as gastrointestinal problems, respiratory diseases (cough, asthma), heart diseases, vermifuge, diabetes mellitus and urinary diseases. In the present study, the pharmacological evaluation of aqueous extract and essential oil extract of flowers of benincasa hispida. has been done for their antihistaminic activity on guinea pig. In isolated guinea pig tracheal chain preparation, there was a right side shift of dose response curve (DRC) of histamine. Chlorpheniramine maleate was used as a standard drug. Moreover extracts of benincasa hispida disturbed histamine aerosol induce bronchoconstriction in whole guinea pig, where essential oil(Essential oil extract (200 ml/kg) Onset of convulsion in secondary 257.6 0.400** and % protection 81.5 was more effective comparatively to benincasa hispida aqueous extract (200 mg/kg) Onset of convulsion in secondary 257.6 0.400** and % protection 64.5. Thus from the results obtained in the present investigation, it can be concluded that aqueous extract and essential oil of benincasa hispida possess antihistaminic activity.

Keywords: Benincasa hispida flower, H1-antagonist, guinea pig.