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Expectorant and toxicological activity of a formulation made from eucalyptus globulus Labill, borago officinalis L., and sambucus nigra L

Abstract:

Introduction: Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (eucalyptus), Borago officinalis L. (borage) and Sambucus nigra L. (elder) are plant species commonly used in folk medicine for their antitussive and mucolytic properties. Objective: Evaluate the pharmacological and toxicological effects of a drug made with an extract obtained from a mixture of the three plants. Methods: Two fluid extracts were obtained from dry leaves of the three species, E. globulus, B. officinalis and S. nigra, mixed in a 25:25:50 proportion. The method used was percolation and the solvents were 30% and 70% ethanol. The mucolytic effect was evaluated with the phenol red model in mouse secretions, and assays were conducted of the 30% and 70% alcoholic extracts. Toxicological analysis was performed on the 70% alcoholic extract. Results: Pharmacological evaluation found that 30% and 70% hydroalcoholic extracts display a mucolytic effect, effectiveness being slightly higher in the 70% alcoholic extract. When evaluated toxicologically, this extract did not show any toxic effect in the dose-limiting acute toxicity test. Conclusions: The formulations developed with fluid plant extracts using 30% and 70% ethanol were found to have a mucolytic effect in the red phenol model in mouse secretions under experimental test conditions. The 70% ethanolic plant extract did not have a toxic effect in the dose-limiting acute toxicity test.