%0 Journal Article %T Pharmacological and biomolecular investigations of a polyherbal formulation (AAF-6) for its antiasthmatic activity %A Antony A %A JayaSankar K %A Roy Partha %A Suganya %J International Journal of Green Pharmacy %D 2010 %I Medknow Publications %X We investigated the antiasthmatic activity of a herbal preparation from a combination of six Indian medicinal plants. The current study was undertaken to assess the antiasthmatic activity of a polyherbal formulation (AAF-6) using ovalbumin-induced asthmatic rats. The animals were divided into five groups: solvent control, ova sensitised control, ova sensitised plus Ketotifen (KT), ova sensitised + parallel treatment with AAF-6 and ova sensitised + post-treatment with AAF-6. Total and differential white blood cell count, total protein content, nitrite level, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and mast cell stabilising activity were estimated. Intragastric administration of AAF-6 (100 mg/kg body weight) significantly reduced total and differential white blood cell count, normalised the increased protein level, and decreased the nitrite level and MPO activity, and increased mast cell stabilising activity, when compared with ova sensitised control. Statistical analyses were done by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni post hoc test at a level of significance P<0.05. AAF-6 exhibited quite a competitive potential when compared with the standard drug KT, affording a possible alternative therapeutic agent in the treatment of asthma. %K Asthma %K mast cell %K myeloperoxidase %K ovalbumin %K polyherbal %U http://www.greenpharmacy.info/article.asp?issn=0973-8258;year=2010;volume=4;issue=4;spage=257;epage=264;aulast=Antony