Evaluation of Cardiovascular Safety of Herbal Cough Syrup

Background: Herbal medicine or phytotherapy is the science of using herbal remedies for the treatment of diseases. Nowadays increasing number of people are using herbal medicines because of lower level of side effects and toxicity associated with them. Pharmacologists must be knowledgeable about their safety. Present study was carried out to evaluate the cardiovascular safety of herbal cough syrup. The syrup contains Glycerrhiza glabra, Piper longum, Adhatoda vasica, Viola odorata, Hyssopus officinalis, and Alpinia galanga. All these ingredients are said to have antitussive properties without any cardiovascular toxic effects. Objective: To evaluate cardiovascular safety of herbal cough syrup. Methods: Twenty eight rabbits of either sex, weighing 670g–1200g were divided into four groups, with 7 rabbits in each group. Group I was the control group & received 0.3 ml of water, group II, III & IV received herbal syrup normal dose (0.57ml/kg), moderate dose (5ml/kg),and high dose (10ml/kg) respectively once daily, orally for a period of 45 days following which blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture, centrifuged & serum was analyzed on Vitalab eclipse automatic analyzer for cardiac & lipid profile. Results: In comparison to control group there were no significant changes in cardiac and lipid profile of all groups. Overall results did not reveal any significant toxicity. Conclusion: The Herbal Syrup is safe as an antitussive and reveals no significant cardiovascular toxicity.