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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A Traditional Chinese Medicine Characteristic Therapy for Bronchial Asthma: Moxibustion
Published on: May 12, 2023
Mechanisms underlying the antispasmodic and bronchodilatory properties of Terminalia bellerica fruit
Anwarul Hassan Gilani1, Arif-Ullah Khan, Tuba Ali
1Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. anwar.gilani@aku.edu
Aim Of The Study:
The present investigation was carried out to provide the pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Terminalia bellerica in hyperactive gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders.
Materials And Methods:
Crude extract of Terminalia bellerica fruit (Tb.Cr) was studied in in vitro and in vivo.
Results:
Tb.Cr caused relaxation of spontaneous contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum at 0.1-3.0mg/mL. Tb.Cr inhibited the carbachol (CCh, 1microM) and K(+) (80mM)-induced contractions in a pattern similar to that of dicyclomine, but different from nifedipine and atropine. Tb.Cr shifted the Ca(++) concentration-response curves to right, like nifedipine and dicyclomine. In guinea-pig ileum, Tb.Cr produced rightward parallel shift of acetylcholine-curves, followed by non-parallel shift at higher concentration with the suppression of maximum response, similar to dicyclomine, but different from nifedipine and atropine. Tb.Cr exhibited protective effect against castor oil-induced diarrhea and carbachol-mediated bronchoconstriction in rodents. In guinea-pig trachea, Tb.Cr relaxed the CCh-induced contractions, shifted CCh-curves to right and inhibited the contractions of K(+). Anticholinergic effect was distributed both in organic and aqueous fractions, while CCB was present in the aqueous fraction.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that Terminalia bellerica fruit possess a combination of anticholinergic and Ca(++) antagonist effects, which explain its folkloric use in the colic, diarrhea and asthma.
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