BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

EFFECT OF ADHATODA VESICA ON AIRWAY RESPONSIVENESS WITH PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS

Abstract

Objectives: 1) To study and compare the Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
in middle-aged non-smoker, non-asthmatic males with non-smoker mild asthmatics. 2) To provide a scientific basis for
choice of herbal medicines as bronchodilator for asthmatic patients by standardized PFTs. Setting: Punjab Postgraduate
Medical Institute (PGMI), Lahore, Out-Patient Departments of Services Hospital and Asthma Clinic Mayo
Hospital, Lahore. Patients & Methods: Forty male nonsmokers between 30 - 60 years of age, equally divided into
control & mild asthmatic groups. PFTs were carried out with Body Plethysmograph (Model 2.2 PK Morgan, UK) before
& after administration of the herbal medicine. The baseline value of Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1)
was used as an index for sub-clinical hyper-responsive behavior of asthmatic group. Reversibility was defined as
improvement in FEV1 of 15% or more from baseline after intake of the bronchodilator. Spirometric and volume related
parameters were measured. The response of asthmatic group was compared with control group before and after intake
of Adhatoda Vasica. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the baseline values of FEV1,
FEV1%, Forced Expiratory Flow 25~75% (FEF 25~75%), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Thoracic Gas Volume
(TGV), Total Lung Capacity (TLC) and Airway Resistance (Raw) amongst asthmatic and control groups. Whereas the
difference became non-significant (p>0.05) after the intake of herbal medicine except for FEV1 which showed a
significant difference (p<0.05). The post-bronchodilator percent change in FEV1 was highly significantly (p<0.01)
correlated with percent changes in FVC, PEFR, TGV, TLC and Raw. Conclusion: This study reveals that flow rates
and static lung volumes are helpful in assessing reversibility in airway obstruction after intake of bronchodilators.