Search for the Natural Remedies for the Treatment of Dry Cough

Abstract

Cough, also known as tussis, is a normal physiological response to any intrusion in the airway. However, this protective mechanism can turn into a nuisance if it becomes persistent, significantly impacting the social, physical, and psychological performance of a person. Standard antitussive agents like dextromethorphan (DXM), codeine, and gabapentin produce various side effects, and in some cases, cough relapse occurs as soon as drug doses are reduced. In search of better alternatives, this article delves into plant-based antitussive agents, studied in-vivo in various cough models. The cough models used in these studies include sulphur dioxide (SO₂), citric acid, ammonia, acetic acid, and capsaicin-induced models. The plant-sourced agents, included in this review article, are not only effective against dry cough but also have better safety profiles and lower addiction potential as compared to the mainstream options. The review article cited the examples of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, arabinogalactan extracted from the roots of Withania somnifera, vitexin from Jatropha mutabilis, Napoleonaea vogelii, Rosa damascene and Hedera helix, which were not only potent antitussives but were also had better safety and performance profile than standard drugs like codeine. By investing in these phytochemicals, exhibiting promising cough-suppression abilities, better, safer, and cheaper antitussive agents can be produced.

.