Background:

Vasicine is an alkaloid isolated from A. vasica with diverse biological activities. In vivo, vasicine (0.2 mg/kg) reduces lipid peroxidation, increases activity of the antioxidases superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) peroxidase (Gpx), and increases levels of GSH in lung in a rat model of toxin-induced asthma. It reduces ammonia- and capsaicin-induced coughing frequency in mice as well as citric acid-induced coughing frequency in guinea pigs. Vasicine (5-45 mg/kg) increases phenol red secretion, a marker of expectorant activity, in mice. It also extends pre-convulsive time, a marker of bronchodilation, in guinea pigs. Vasicine also stimulates uterine contractions in rats and mice.