Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research

Asthma affects 7% population of the United States, 6.5% of British population and a total of 300 million people worldwide. It affects over 5-10% of the population in industrialized countries. Asthma is characterized by a predisposition to chronic inflammation of the lungs in which the airways (bronchi) are reversibly narrowed resulting in difficulty in breathing. The agents responsible for the early reaction (immediate bronchoconstriction) include- histamine, tryptase, and other neutral proteases, leukotrienes C4 & D4 and prostaglandins. Synthetic drugs may give instant relief from symptoms of asthma, but have lot of undesirable effects (like those of steroids). Herbal drugs (Tylophora, Coleus, Ephedra, Boswelia and Ginkgo etc.) as reported in ancient literature and screened for pharmacological activity are an excellent option for the treatment of various ailments including asthma. PDF

The Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) has been known as the wonder tree for centuries in the Indian subcontinent. It has become important in the global context today because it offers answers to the major concerns facing mankind.Neem (Azadirachta indica) is considered harmless to humans, animals, birds, beneficial insects and earthworms, and has been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency for use on food crops. Azadirachtin and other active ingredients in the neem seed have insecticidal properties that are effective against a broad spectrum of insects, many mites and nematodes, and even snails and fungi, and do not seem to generate resistance in the pests they affect. Nowadays, neem and its extracts are used in numerous herbal and allopathic medicines.  PDF