© 2023 IJNRD | Volume 8, Issue 3 March 2023 | ISSN: 2456-4184 | IJNRD.

ORG

Herbal Cough Syrup: A Review

Nikhil Choudhary*, Muskan, Mrs. Manjit Kaur, Dr. Rajesh Gupta
Sri Sai College of Pharmacy, Badhani, Pathankot (Punjab)

ABSTRACT: Preparations presently used to treat cough are among the world's most widely used over-the-
counter drugs. Currently available cough suppressants primarily act on the central cough pathway. The
significant side effects of these agents such as constipation, respiratory depression, dependence, drowsiness, and
death from this action limit their use in humans and are thus highly unsatisfactory. The survival of Ayurveda
medicine is generating a surge of interest. As the risks and shortcomings of modern medicine have become
increasingly evident, there has been a shift towards the use of herbal medicine on a global scale. The bulk of
Ayurvedic formulations are made from herbs. The syrup is a popular dosage form of cough and cold medications,
easing patient compliance.
Keywords: Herbal Syrup, antitussive herbs, expectorant herbs, herbal formulations
INTRODUCTION
Herbal formulations are used for many types of diseases. Herbal formulations mean a dosage form consisting of
one or more herbs or processed herbs in specified quantities to provide specific nutritional, and cosmetic benefits
meant for use to diagnose, treat, and mitigate diseases of the human being. An herbal syrup is prepared by
combining a decoction with either honey or sugar and sometimes alcohol. A potent herbal decoction serves as
the syrup's foundation. In cough syrup, many types of herbal plants are used, for example, ginger, Tulsi, honey,
and clove. Cough is one of the most common problems faced by all people. A cough is your body's way of
responding when something irritates your throat or airway. An irritation activates nerves that cause your brain to
receive a message. The brain then tells muscles in your chest and abdomen to push air out of the ilium lungs to
force out the irritant. An occasional cough is normal and healthy.
A. Types of coughs
Mainly there are two types of coughs, which are classified as follows
Wet cough
Dry cough
Wet cough:
Productive and effective cough.
It expels secretion from mucous or forges in material from the respiratory tract.

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The main purpose of a wet cough is to remove the foreign matter of mucous from the respiratory tract by which
inspection is caused.
Dry cough:
Non-effective and infective cough.
It expels secretion or mucous from the lungs.
Dry cough is chronic, and it is caused by dry irritation, smoke, and dust
B. Herbal treatment of cough
Nowadays, herbal remedies are commonly used for the treatment of cough, also herbal drugs, as well as herbal
formulations, are playing important role in various types of cough. Cough is being treated with medicines like
cough suppressants. The antitussive agent gives only symptomatic relief. These agents are contraindicated in
asthma. Modern medicines may achieve antitussive, mucolytic, and expectorant activity, but at the expense of
unpleasant or intolerable side effects. These modern medicines may have unpleasant interactions. Long-term use
may result in unpleasant or intolerable side effects. The herbal formulations are safe and effective as it is desirable
from natural ingredients prescribed in the ancient herbal system of medicines, found to be giving long-lasting
relief from all kinds of cough. Herbal medicine has fewer side effects.
C. Advantages of Herbal Medicine
1. Low cost
2. Harmless
3. Easily Available
4. Not required prescription
5. Herbs grow in common places
6. No side effects
7 Herbal medicines are more effective.
8. They are eco-friendly.
D. Disadvantages of Herbal Medicine
1. Herbal medicine can produce adverse effects.
2. Herbal medicine has another disadvantage is the rare risk of self-dosing herbs.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Ankush Ganpat Patil et al (2020); This review suggested that syrup is used commonly for dosage form, which
is used to treat cough and cold for the reason that it has ease patient compliance. The syrup comprises ginger
macerated honey base and Tulsi, liquorice, cardamom, fennel, aulas, and clove as an antitussive and expectorant.
Alka Saxena et al (2020); This demonstrated that interest regarding the survival of Ayurvedic forms of
medication. In the global, there is a move towards the use of herbal origin as the danger and the shortcoming of
modern medicine have started getting more apparent majority of the ayurvedic formulation are prepared from
herbs. The syrup is a very popular dosage form of cough and cold medications to ease patient compliance.
Yasmeen Jahan et al (2015); This review suggested despite a recent survey, medications intended to treat cough
remain among the most popular over-the-counter medicines in the world. suggesting that there is little proof that
these medications have any significant effectiveness. The central cough pathway is the major target of currently
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available cough suppressants. The significant side effects of these agents such as constipation, Respiratory
depression, dependence, drowsiness, and death from this action Limit their use in humans and thus highly
unsatisfactory. There is a current Huge unmet need for the development of safe, effective antitussive Therapeutic
options in the treatment of persistent cough as an alternative to Existing medications. Medicinal plants are an
important source for the Discovery of novel bioactive compounds, which have served and continue to Serve as
lead molecules for the development of new drugs.
Ashutosh Meher (2012); This review demonstrated that Coughing is a protective reaction of the respiratory
system that helps to open up the upper airways and shouldn't be stopped without cause. A cough is thought to be
caused by a reflex. It occurs due to stimulation of mechano-or Chemoreceptors in the throat, respiratory passage,
or stretch Receptor in the lungs. The sensitive receptors are in the bronchial tree, particularly in the junction of
the Trachea. These receptors can be stimulated mechanically or chemically e.g., by inhalation of various irritants
then nerve Impulses activate the cough center in the brain. Traditionally cough is classified as either productive,
i.e., Producing mucus usually with expectoration, or Non-productive (dry). Thus, it seems prudent to utilise an
efficient antitussive such as dextromethorphan or codeine to suppress the crippling cough experienced by such
patients. Non-Narcotic antitussive agents Anesthetize the stretch receptor located in respiratory Passages, lungs,
and pleura by dampening their activity and thereby reducing the cough reflex at its source.
Luisa Wagner et al (2015); Acute cough symptoms commonly Result from infection (upper respiratory tract
infection (URTI) or Common cold) or environmental exposure to smoke and/or allergens. Whilst most people
experience a cough at least once in their lives, its frequency is linked to factors such as gender and allergen
Sensitivity. There is no evidence that any classic mucolytic, Including N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), eases patients'
symptoms by Helping them to expectorate mucus. Trials of over-the-counter Remedies, such as cough syrups
and cough suppressants, have also failed to produce consistent, objective benefits. Herbal medicines are part of
a wide range of treatments such as physiotherapies, Hydrotherapies, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM),
a few of Which are applied in conventional medicine. Whilst herbal treatments have a long history of use in
varied cultures, randomized controlled trial (RCT) data on their effects is generally lacking. Herbal cough
treatments with proven clinical efficacy include Ivy/primrose/thyme-based preparations which are recommended
as expectorants in current European guidelines. This review and meta-analysis were conducted to summarize
and evaluate existing high-quality data on the use of herbal medicines in the treatment of cough in adults and
children.
Vaijayanti Gaikwad et al (2016); This review states that acute cough represents the most common illness
evaluated in outpatient settings. Available remedies for its management are generally allopathic combinations of
antihistamines and decongestants that achieve antitussive activity, but often with unpleasant side effects
prompting the need to explore safer and more effective options. Honitus is an Ayurvedic proprietary herbal cough
syrup with the benefits of honey, intended to provide relief in acute non-productive cough and throat irritation
without causing drowsiness. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of onions in reducing acute non-
productive cough and throat irritation in comparison to a standard marketed allopathic cough syrup intended for
use in similar conditions.

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Mohamed A. Farag et al (2020); Liquid cough preparations containing essential oils pose a challenge for
isolating and quantifying their volatile components from such a complex matrix enriched with non-volatile
constituents and excipients. Cough preparations were subjected to headspace solid-phase microextraction for
determination of their essential oil composition mediating for their actions and to assess volatile differences
among them. HSSPME is a suitable technique for sample preparation that allows for extraction and enrichment
of volatiles from complex non-volatile matrices and their direct desorption into the gas chromatography
analytical system.
Shahnaz Sultana et al (2016); Cough occurs suddenly and often repetitively which helps to clear the large
breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles, and microorganisms. Coughing can be due to a
respiratory tract infection such as the common cold, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, pertussis, flu, and smoking or
health problems Such as asthma, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. Substantial uses of folk remedies for different
medical conditions Have been documented. The remedies included cinnamon, ginger, clove, cardamom, honey,
lemon, garlic, onion, Turmeric and licorice.
Anu Kaushik (2020); From the global perspective, there is a shift towards the use of medicine of herbal origin,
as the dangers and the shortcoming of modern medicine have started getting more apparent, majority of
Ayurvedic formulations are prepared from herbs. The syrup is a very popular dosage form of cough and cold
medications, easing patient compliance. The objective of this study is to develop a polyherbal cough syrup and
evaluate the physicochemical parameter along with turbidity/ homogeneity compared with the changes in the
accelerated stability test.

HERBS USED IN FORMULATION

SR. NO. INGREDIENT USES
1 Tulsi Antitussive
2 Ginger Antitussive
3 Liquorice Expectorant
4 Fennel Flavouring agent
5 Cardamon Aromatic
6 Peppermint Cough
7 Clove Expectorant
8 Honey Viscosity modifies

Table1: Herbs Used in Formulation

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PREPARATION:
Method of preparation of decoction:
Take 5- 7 gm of each sample of all ingredients

All Herbs mixed by using 500 ml water

Boil until the total volume converts one-fourth part of previous

Then the liquid was cool and filter

Attach reflux condenser and boiled the material carefully by using a water bath for 3 hrs
Method of preparation of maceration:
Take 35 ml, 40ml, 45ml honey

Mix 1.75 gm, 2 gm, and 2.5 gm of ginger with 35ml, 40ml, 45ml Honey in the 250ml beaker and packed with
the help of aluminum foil

Allow beaker to stand at room temperature for 24 hrs

After 24 hrs. The preparation was filtered, and filters are used as final oral form
Final herbal cough syrup:
The prepared final cough syrup 35ml of macerated ginger with honey add 25 ml of decoction mixed slowly by
current stirring

Over, 40ml and 45ml macerated ginger with honey add 15ml and 20ml of decoction was mixed slowly by
continues stirring

Herbal cough syrup was prepared, and solubility was checked by Detecting the clarity of solution visually
EVALUATION OF HERBAL COUGH SYRUP
Procedure to determine the density
1) Clean thoroughly the specific gravity bottle with chromic acid or nitric acid.
2) Rinse the bottle twice to three times with distilled water.
3) If required, rinse the bottle with an organic solvent like acetone and dry.
4) Take the weight of the empty dry bottle with a capillary tube stopper.
5) Fill the bottle with an unknown liquid and place the stopper, wipe out excess liquid from outside the tube
using tissue paper.
6) Weight bottle with unknown liquid on the analytical balance.
7) Calculate the weight in grams of unknown liquid.
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2. Procedure to determine Specific gravity

1) Clean thoroughly the specific gravity bottle with chromic or nitric acid.
2) Rinse the bottle twice to three times with purified water.
3) If required, rinse the bottle with an organic solvent like acetone and dry.
5) Fill the bottle with distilled water and place stopper; wipe out excess liquid from the side tube using tissue
paper .
6) Weight bottle with stopper and water on an analytical balance.
7) Repeat the procedure for liquid under test by replacing the water after emptying and drying as mentioned in
steps 4 to 6.
8) Weight bottle with stopper and liquid under test on an analytical balance .
3. Procedure to determine Viscosity
1) Thoroughly clean the Ostwald viscometer with warm chromic acid and if necessary, used an organic solvent
such as acetone.
2) Mount the viscometer in the vertical position on a suitable stand.
3) Fill water in a dry viscometer up to mark G.
4) Count time required, in seconds for the water to flow from mark A to mark B.
5) Repeat step 3 at least 3 times to obtain an accurate reading.
6) Rinse the viscometer with the test liquid and then fill it up to mark A, and find out the time required for the
liquid to flow to mark B.
7) Determination of densities of liquid as mentioned in the density determination experiment.

CONCLUSION
Cough suppressant and expectorant activities have been claimed for many medicinal plants, in the literature.
Based on this knowledge, different workers have evaluated many herbs for Antitussives & expectorant activities
which have been compiled and reported in this study. This review finally concludes by giving a comprehensive
view of herbal drugs for the treatment of cough as crude drugs, as well as polyherbal formulations, are good
alternatives to modern cough drugs which are having a lot of side effects.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors are thankful to the operation and Staff members of Sri Sai College of Pharmacy, Badhani, Pathankot
for furnishing the necessary installations and for their precious support in the council.
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