Cough Suppressant Herbal Drugs: A Review
Cough Suppressant Herbal Drugs: A Review
Cough Suppressant Herbal Drugs: A Review
Abstract: A cough occurs suddenly and often repetitively which helps to clear the large breathing passages
from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microorganisms. Coughing can be due to a respiratory tract
infection such as the common cold, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, pertussis, flu and smoking or health problems
such as asthma, tuberculosis and lung cancer. Substantial uses of folk remedies for different medical conditions
have been documented. The remedies included cinnamon, ginger, clove, cardamom, honey, lemon, garlic, onion,
turmeric and licorice.
Keywords: Cough, Herbal drugs, Home remedies, Gastroesophageal reflux disease
.
I.
Introduction
A cough is a sudden and often repetitively occurring process which helps to clear the large breathing
passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microorganisms. . When there is a blockage or irritation
in the throat or upper air passage, the brain thinks a foreign element is present and tells the body to cough to
remove that element. Generally coughing is perfectly normal. A cough can help to keep your throat clear from
phlegm and other irritants. However, sustained coughing can also be symptomatic of a number of conditions.
The cough reflex consists of three phases: an inhalation, a forced exhalation against a closed glottis, and a
violent release of air from the lungs following opening of the glottis, usually accompanied by a distinctive
sound. Coughing is either voluntary or involuntary [1].
It is one of the most common health problems. Coughing can also be due to a respiratory tract infection
such as the common cold, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, pertussis, flu and smoking or health problems such as
asthma, tuberculosis and lung cancer. In the vast majority of cases, acute coughs, i.e. coughs shorter than three
weeks, are due to the common cold. Pertussis is increasingly being recognized as a cause of troublesome
coughing in adults.
Some of the symptoms of a cough are itchy throat, chest pain and congestion. The repetition of
coughing produces inflammation and discomfort, which in turn result in more coughing [2, 3]. With allergies,
one can reduce flare-ups by identifying the allergens that affect them and avoiding exposure to them. Common
allergens include trees, pollen grains, dust mites, animal fur, mold and insects.
Many microorganisms, bacteria and viruses, are responsible for causing a person to cough, which helps
to spread the disease to new hosts. Most of the time, irregular coughing is caused by a respiratory tract
infection but can also be triggered by choking, smoking, air pollution, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disorder
(GERD), post-nasal drip, chronic bronchitis, lung tumors, heart failure and medications such as Angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors [4].
Gastro-oesophageal reflux is associated with a wide range of respiratory disorders, including asthma,
isolated chronic cough, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis
[5]. In adults with a chronic cough, i.e. a cough longer than 8 weeks, more than 90% of cases are due to postnatal drip, asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis and gastroesophageal reflux diseases [6].
In people with unexplained cough, GERD should be considered. This occurs when acidic contents of
the stomach come back up into the esophagus. Symptoms usually associated with GERD include heartburn, sour
taste in the mouth, or a feeling of acid reflux in the chest, although, more than half of the people with cough
from GERD dont have any other symptoms. An esophageal pH monitor can confirm the diagnosis of GERD.
Sometimes GERD can complicate respiratory ailments related to cough, such as asthma or bronchitis. The
treatment involves anti-acid medications and lifestyle changes with surgery indicated in cases not manageable
with conservative measures. Proton pump inhibitor also recommended to improve this type of cough [2, 7].
Coughing may be caused by air pollution including tobacco smoke, irritant gases and dampness in a home. The
human health effects of poor air quality are far reaching, but principally affect the body's respiratory system and
the cardiovascular system. People, who exercise outdoors on hot, smoggy days, increase their exposure to
pollutants in the air.
A foreign body can sometimes be suspected if the cough started suddenly when the patient was eating.
Rarely, sutures left behind inside the airway branches can cause coughing. A cough can be triggered by dryness
from mouth breathing or recurrent aspiration of food into the windpipe in people with swallowing difficulties.
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5.
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S.No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Acorus calamus L.
(Acoraceae)
Calamus root
Rhizome
5.
Adhatoda vasica
Medic.
(Acanthaceae)
Vasaka
Leaf, flowers, bark
Agrimonia
eupatoria L.
(Rosaceae)
Agrimony
Root
6.
7.
Allium sativum L.
(Amaryllidaceae)
Garlic
Bulb cloves
Camphene, camphor,
choline, -cadinene,
Cineole, -pinene, terpineol, azulene, asarone, elemicin,
ethanol, eugenol,
galangin, limonene,
magnesium, menthol,
terpenes, tannin, zinc
Pyrroquinazoline
alkaloids including
vasicine, vasicol and
vasinone
Amenorrhoea,
aphrodisiac, asthma,
colds, congestion, cough,
headache/migraine, sore
throat, for stoppage of
smoking
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8.
Angelica
archangelica L.
(Apiaceae)
Choraka
roots, stems, seeds,
leaves
9.
Astragalus
membranaceus
(Fisch.) Bunge
(Fabaceae)
Astragalus root
Root
Cinnamomum
Zeylanicum Blume
(Lauraceae)
Cassia Bark
Bark
13. 3 Citrus limonum
7Risso
(Rutaceae)
Lemon
Rind, juice,
essential oil
14. 6 Commiphora
3myrrha (Nees) Engl.
(Burseraceae)
Myrrh
Resin
15. l Echinacea
l angustifolia de
Candolle
(Asteraceae)
Echinacea
Roots, stems and
flowers
16. 2Eucalyptus globules
Labill.
(Myrtaceae)
Eucalyptus
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flu, cardiovascular,
cholesterol, cough,
colds, diabetes, sores,
sinus, sore throat
Amenorrhea, colds,
digestion, cough,
cramps/abdominal
disorders, depression,
dysmenorrhea,
hypertension,
pregnancy/childbirth
Cancer prevention,
cardiovascular, colds,
fatigue,
immunostimulant,
kidney diseases, cough,
longevity tonic, sinus
problems
Analgesic, anticancer,
antispasmodic, aromatic,
carminative, digestive,
emmenagogue, febrifuge,
galactagogue, cough.
Aromatherapy, arthritis,
bronchitis, bruises,
sprains, cardiovascular,
colds, congestion, IBS,
lupus, sleep, insomnia,
cough.
Aromatherapy, athletes,
diabetes, ringworm,
Candida/yeast infection,
colds, cough,
culinary/kitchen,
Acne, air freshner
cellulite,
culinary/kitchen, facial
care, sore throat,
hypertension, varicose
veins, wrinkles, cough.
Aromatherapy, athletes
ingwrorm, Candida and
yeast infections, colds,
cuts, wounds, dental
/oral care, hemorrhoids,
sore throat, cough.
Candida/yeast infection,
colds, immunostimulant,
insect/flea bites, sinus,
sore throat, cough.
Allergies, burns,
arthritis, bronchitis,
colds, congestion, flu,
Herpes/cold, cough,
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17. 4 Eupatorium
3perfoliatum L.
(Asteraceae)
Boneset
Aerial parts
18. 5Filipendula
9ulmaria (L.)
Maxim.
(Rosaceae)
Meadowsweet
Ariel parts
19. 1Foeniculum vulgare
6Mill.
(Apiaceae)
Fennel seed
Seed
20. 4 Forsythia suspense
9(Thunb.) Vahl.
(Oleaceae)
Forsythia Fruit
Fruit
23. 5Hydrastis
3Canadensis L.
(Ranunculaceae)
Goldenseal
root, leaves
epiglobulol, piperitone
and globulol
Quercetin, kaempferol,
rutin, eupatorin,
terpenoids sesquiterpene
lactones, volatile oil, resin
sores,insect, lice,
repellent, pain relief,
sinus, rheumatoid
arthritis, sore throat
Bronchitis, colds, cough,
flu, immunostimulant
Aromatherapy,
congestion, cough,
culinary/kitchen, weight
loss, digestion, halitosis,
lupus, menopause
Antiscrofulous, diuretic,
emmenagogue,
febrifuge, skin tonic,
vermifuge, colds, cough.
1,8-Cineole, amyrin,
pinenes, -terpinene,
terpineol, tocopherol,
arginine, carotene,
sitostero, choline,
cinnamic acid, citric acid,
copper, magnesium
Hydrastine, resin,
berberine, meconin,
berberastine, canadine,
candaline, hydrastinine,
fatty acids, polyphenolic
acids, chlorogenic acid,
phytosterins
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Foot/ringworm,
bronchitis, colds, cuts,
wounds, diarrhoea,
eczema, eyes/vision,
gastritis/ulcer,
immunostimulant,
parasites/worms
infections, psoriasis,
sore throat, cough.
Bronchitis, burns,
bruises/sprains, flu,
cardiovascular, IBS,
congestion, facial care,
dental/oral care, cough,
Herpes/cold, sores,
hypertension, insect
repellent
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-Pinene, myrcene,
sabinene, limonene,
terpinene, camphene,
thujone, sugars, vitamin
C, flavonoids, resin,
gallotannins
26. 5Lavandula
7angustifolia L.
(Lamiaceae)
Lavender
Flowers, leaves and
stems
30. 3Melaleuca
5leucadendron L.
(Myrtaceae)
Cajeput Oil
Essential Oil
Marrubiin (a bitter
principle), diterpene
alcohols (marrbiol,
murrubenol), alkaloids,
sesquiterpene, tannin,
saponins, resin
-Pinene, cymene,
cineole, terpenes,
terpinene, alcohols
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Bronchitis, colds,
cardiovascular, cough,
sore throat.
Acne, athletes
foot/ringworm,
Candida/yeast infection,
cuts, wounds, scabies,
dental/oral care,
Herpes/cold, cough,
sores, insect repellent,
insect/flea bites, sore
throat
Aromatherapy,
arthritis, colds, bronchitis,
cough, congestion, gout,
eczema, insect repellent,
lice infection, pain
reliever, rheumatoid
arthritis, sinusis, sore
throat
Aromatherapy,
cardiovascular, colds,
depression, cough,
dysmenorrhea, Herpes,
sores, hypertension,
insect/flea bites, nausea,
pregnancy/childbirth, sore
throat, sun burns
Aromatherapy,
bronchitis, halitosis,
cardiovascular, cold,
congestion, fatigue, flu,
gastritis/ulcer, cough,
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9sidoides. DC.
( Geraniaceae)
Umckaloaba
Aerial part
38. 4 Petasites vulgaris
4Desf.
(Asteraceae)
Butterbur
Root
39. 6 Phytolacca
2Americana L.
(Phytolaccaceae)
Poke Root
Tincture of the root
40. 4 Pimenta racemosa
1(Mill,) J.W. Moore
(Myrtaceae)
Bay Rum Tree
essential oil
41. 1 Pimpinella anisum
7L.
(Apiceae)
Anise seed
Seed
42. 5Pinus sylvestris L.
1(Pinaceae)
Scot's pine
Needles
headache/migraine, lice
infection, nausea, sinus
nerve/back pain,
Anxiety, children
diseases, colds, cough,
cramps/abdominal,
dysmenorrhea,
Colds, cough,
congestion, flu, IBS,
Memory/Focus, nausea,
stress
Cough, sleep/insomnia
Acute bronchitis,
tonsillopharyngitis (sore
throat), common cold,
sinusitis, cough.
Pyrrolizidine, senecionine,
integerrimine, quercetin,
astragalan, petasin,
tannins, volatile oil;
sesquiterpene
Jaligonic acid, oleanolic
acid , tannin, starch,
xylose
Asthma, cardiovascular,
colds, headache/migraine,
cough.
Terpinen-4-ol, eugenol,
myrcene, 1,8-cineole,
chavicol, limonene
Alopecia/baldness,
aromatherapy, colds,
cough, flu, insect
repellent
Choline, sugar,
mucilage, essential oil
containing anethole
(90%).
Aromatherapy, colds,
congestion, cough,
cramps/abdominal,
ulinary herb, digestion,
IBS, lice infection,
scabies.
Antimicrobial, analgesic,
antineuralgic,
antirheumatic, antiseptic,
antiviral, diuretic,
expectorant, hypertensive,
insecticidal, restorative,
aromatherapy, arthritis,
circulation, colds, cough,
congestion, gout,
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Cancer prevention,
colds, cough, flu,
psoriasis, scabies, sore
throat
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rheumatoid_arthritis
Aromatherapy, colds,
digestion, cough,
flu, lupus, nausea,
rheumatoid arthritis.
Bronchitis, colds,
congestion, cough,
sleep/insomnia.
Aromatherapy, arthritis,
bronchitis,
cardiovascular pain,
colds, cough,
circulation, hair tonic ,
fatigue, lice infection,
hypertension, scabies,
rheumatoid arthritis,
49. 6 Saponaria
5officinalis L.
(Caryophyllalaceae)
Soapwort
Rhizome
50. 4 Taraxacum
8officinale F.H.
Wigg.
(Asteraceae)
Dandelion root
roots, flowers,
leaves
51. 3Thymus vulgaris L.
(Lamiaceae)
Thyme
Leaves
Acetylcholine,
kaempferol, p-coumaric
acid, prunasin, quercetin,
scopoletin, tannins.
taraxacin, taraxol,
taraxasterol, sterols,
inulin, sugars, pectin,
vitamins, choline,
phenolic acids,
asparagine, lutein,
violaxanthin, carotenoids
Tymol, carvacrol,
cymene, -pinene,
menthone, borneol,
linalool
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53. 1Trachyspermum
5ammi Sprague
(Apiaceae)
Ajwain
Seed
54. 1Tussilago farfara L.
8(Asteraceae)
Coughworth
Seeds, stem
55. 1Valeriana officinalis
9L.
(Valerianaceae)
Velerien root
Root
56. 4Verbascum Thapsus
L.
(Scrophulariaceae)
Mullein
Flower,
Leaves,Root
57. 6 Verbena hastata L.,
6V. officinalis L.
(Verbenaceae)
Vervain
Leaves, flowering
heads
58. 1Veronica officinalis
3L.
(Plantagenaceae)
Sleepwel
Flower part
59. 8Viburnum opulus
L.
(Caprifoliaceae)
Cramp Bark
Bark
60. Zingiber officinale
Roscoe
(Zingiberaceae)
Ginger
Rhizome
-Pinene, astragalin,
amyrin, hesperidin, sitosterol, caffeic acid,
geraniol, isoquercitrin,
limonene, linalyl acetate,
nerolidol, p-coumaric
acid, phenylalanine
-Pinene, -pinene,
camphene, carvacrol,
thymol, limonene
Mucilage, alkaloid,
saponins, tannin
(especially in the leaf).
Asthma, bronchitis,
colds, congestion,
cough, smoking inhibitor
Addiction,
cardiovascular, cough,
insomnia, stoppage of
smoking
Verbathasin A, crocetin,
hesperidin, ascorbic acid,
coumarin, verbascoside
tannins
Scopoletin, viburnin,
triterpenoid saponins,
salicosides, resin, valeric
acid, tannin, arbutin.
Dysmenorrhea,
menopause, cough,
menorrhagia,
pregnancy/childbirth
Zingiberone, bisabolene,
Gingerols, shogaol,
paradols, fats, protein,
starch, vitamins, amino
acids.
Amenorrhea, colds,
lupus, nausea, cough,
aromatherapy, arthritis,
digestion, bruises/sprains,
cardiovascular, flu,
dysmenorrhea,
fibromyalgia,
rheumatoid arthritis
Culinary , digestion,
cough.
II.
Conclusion
Among respiratory track disorders cold and cough are common symptoms having variety of reasons behind
them. It can lead to the serious disease if not treated in time. Proper diagnoses can cure this problem by different
types of medicinal drugs commonly found around us alone or in combination.
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