Dr. Uttamaro Mahajan College of Pharmacy, Chalisgaon.
The most common problem suffered by individuals everywhere over many centuries cough. Coughing is the protective mechanism of the body. Coughs are classified further accordingly which are depending upon factors such as signs and symptoms, duration, type, character, etc. Most commonly used, prepared and popular dosage form to cure cough and cold is syrup. The most preferred dosage form to cure cough is herbal syrup, which is used mostly due its benefits over synthetic syrups. Medicinal plants are used as primary health care agents, mostly in Asian countries. Ingredients showing expectorant antitussive activity are used. Hereby cough and herbal treatments associated with cough are studied briefly. The herbal cough syrup is studied which is liquid dosage form, it is easy to administer than solid dosage form and is more effective and fast acting in order to cure cough. Method of preparation of cough syrups were discussed. The material and quantity used in preparation were listed. Here honey based three batches were performed having concentration such as 35%, 40%, 43% w/v the quality of final syrup was evaluated for pest formulation studies.
Herbal cough syrup it is defined as a prepared and combination and concentration decoction with honey. Sugar or either some time use alcohol. Another name for “Cough” is “tussis” the voluntary or involuntary act which clears the throat and breathing passage of foreign particles, microbes, irritants, fluids, and mucus is nothing but cough [1]. It is the rapid expulsion of air from lungs. when we have blockage or irritation in the throat or upper air passage, the brain thinks a foreign element is there in body and it inform body immediately to cough to expel out foreign element out of our body. the cough reflex consists of the 3 phases which are an inhalation, a forced exhalation against a closed glottis, and a violet release of air from the lungs following opening of the glottis, and followed by a distinctive sound [2].
Types of coughs
Cough is classified depending upon duration, character, and type.
A. Depending upon type (33,34)
Cough is classified into two types as dry and wet cough which is depend upon type. This are identified using signs and symptoms. 1. Dry cough
? Medicine: Cough suppressant and antitussive.
2. Wet cough:
? Medicine: Expectorant.
B. Depending upon duration
It may be classified into acute, sub -acute and chronic cough depending upon duration [6].
1)Acute cough
2)Sub-acute cough
3) Chronic cough
a) The cough lasting for more than period of 8 weeks or more are chronic coughs.
b) The respiratory causes are COPD, asthma, lung cancer, tuberculosis, and pneumoconiosis [8,9].
Coughs in paediatrics
A cough is a sign that indicates that the child's body is trying to get out of itself from irritant, pollutants, and other foreign particles. Cough is one of the most common problems of visiting parents with their child to healthcare practitioner. Common causes of cough include:
1)Allergies or sinusitis:
It can cause a prolong cough including an itchy throat, runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, or rash. Allergy tests are done to find out which allergens cause the problem and doctor advice how to avoid those allergens.
2)Asthma:
Asthma can be very difficult to diagnose in children as symptoms may vary from every child to child. While wheezing cough, that get worse at night one of the many signs. The other cough occurs with increased in physical activities like playing, exercise, etc. Treatment for asthma is dependent upon what is actual cause of it.
3)Infection:
Cold, flu, and croup this leads to a prolong cough for children. Colds cause mild to moderate hacking cough while the flu a sometimes cause severe, dry cough and croup has a “barking” cough mostly occurs at night with noisy breathing.
4)Other reasons children cough:
Children’s may also cough as they get habit of coughing after sick with a cough, after inhaling a foreign element like food or a small object, or in contact with irritants like pollution, cigarettes smoke or firecrackers smoke.
Classification of herbal cough syrup
1)Mucolytics:
Mucolytics are drug belonging to class of mucoactive agents . They expert their effect on the mucus layer lining the respiratory tract with the motive of enhancing its clearance. Mucus is the first line of defence for the various epithelia inside our body against harmful pathogens.
2)Expectorant:
Guaifenesin is the most prescribed oral mucolytic agents an expectorant in the United States.[32] its mechanism of action is to reduce the surface tension and viscosity of the mucus, which increase the ease of expectoration. Respiratory mucus removal is facilitated by increased flow of the thinned secretion via ciliary action.[36] Studied on the efficacy of guaifenesin have failed to demonstrate either improved pulmonary function or decreased scrotum viscosity. Hence, its clinical usefulness is questionable.
3.Cough Suppressant:
Dextromethorphan is the cough suppressant found in OTC cough medications, and it often is combined with the expectorant guaifenesin. Dextromethorphan, the D isomer of the codeine analogue levorphanol, acts centrally in the cough centre in the medulla to suppress cough. Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and gastrointestinal upset also may be seen with dextromethorphan use. [27,28] Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine, also is marketed as a cough suppressant for the exact mechanism of the action of first-generation antihistamine antitussive effects is unknown [29,30].
4.Natural remedies:
Natural remedies are especially good for young children since expects recommend against giving children younger than 4 years old cough medications. They also recommend speaking with your child’s paediatrician before giving cough medicine to children between 4 and 7 years old.
Herbal treatment for cough
The most preferred treatment for cough is herbal treatment. Herbal formulations are playing major role in improvement of health care sector. The Herbal treatments are used for mild to severe health disorders including, asthma, tuberculosis, cough, pneumonia, kidney diseases, cancer, diabetes, allergies, lung cancer and viral infections [10,11]. As stated, to estimate of WHO, there are 80% population even uses herbal medicines for primary health care requirements. Medicinal herbs have always been used as traditional primary healthcare agents and especially in Asian countries [10]. Major use of herbal medicines is for health promotion and therapy for chronic, as opposed to condition which are life threatening. Most of the synthetic drug treatment used causes many side effects like vomiting, nausea, sedation, allergies, respiratory tract infections, appetite change, irritability, drowsiness, addiction, and excess use can damage organs or parts of organs [6].In recent years, researchers are mainly focusing on herbal drugs and herbal treatments which have less or have no side effects during and after treatment [11,12].
Herbal Ingredients in Cough Syrups:
Following herbal part are used in the formulation of herbal cough syrup: (28,29)
Liquorice
Synonyms: Glycyrrhiza glabra, liquorice
Biological source: Liquorice is the dried, peeled or unpeeled, roots, rhizome or stolon of glycyrrhiza glabra linn.
Family: Legumimasu
Chemical constituents:
Glycyrrhizin/glycyrrhizic acid (major glycoside) Glycyrrhi c acid (aglycone) Glucuronic acid Liquiritoside; iso liquiritoside, liquiri n; iso liquirin (Flavonoid/Chalcone glycosides) Resin, Vola le oil,Starch.
Uses:
2)Pudina
Synonym: peppermint, fragrant, Mentha leaves
Biological source: pudina consists of dried leaves and obtained from flowering tops of menthe spicatalinn to family labiatae.
Chemical constituents: The main cons tuents of menthol (40.7%) and menthone (23.4%) further components were menthyl acetate,1,8-cinecole, limonene, beta-pinene and betacaryophyllene
Uses:
3)Tulsi:
Synonyms: Holy basil, sacred basil. Biological source: It consists of dried leaves of ocimumsantumlinn. Belonging to family Labiatae.
Chemical constituents: Pleas-ant vola le oil (0.1to 0.9%) Also consist 70%eugenol and carvacrol (3%) eugenolmethyl-ether (20%).
Uses:
4). Honey:
Synonyms: Madhu, madh
Biological Source :
Honey is produced by honeybees (Apis mellifera) using nectar from flowers.
Chemical Constituents :
Sugars: Fructose (~38%), Glucose (~31%), and small amounts of sucrose, maltose, etc.
Water: (~17-20%)
Enzymes: Invertase, amylase, glucose oxidase.
Vitamins: B-complex (e.g., B1, B2, B6), Vitamin C.
Minerals: Potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Antioxidants: Flavonoids, phenolic acids.
Amino acids: Trace amounts.
Uses:
5)Turmeric
Synonyms: curcuma, Curcuma aroma cs, curcumin.
Biological source: The biological source of turmeric is the Curcuma longa plant, which is a member of the ginger family Zingiberaceae
Chemical constituents: gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, ru n, curcumin, myrice n, and cinnamic acid.
Uses:
6)Rose Water
Synonyms: Rose distillate,Rose floral water
Biological Source:Rose water is derived from the distillation of rose petals, primarily from varieties like Rosa damascena (Damask rose) or Rosa centifolia (Cabbage rose).
Chemical Constituents :
Phenolic compounds: Rose water contains antioxidants like flavonoids and polyphenols.
Essential oils: Contains small amounts of essential oils from rose petals, which provide its characteristic aroma.
Citronellol: A compound responsible for the pleasant fragrance of roses.
Geraniol: A rose-scented compound found in many essential oils.
Tannins: Contributing to its astringent properties.
Vitamin C: It provides some antioxidant benefits.
Uses:
7) Glycerine:
Synonyms: Glycerol, Glycerine (alternative spelling), Propanetriol
Biological Source:
Glycerine is typically derived from plant oils (like soy, palm, or coconut oil) or animal fats through a process called saponification (the production of soap).
It can also be produced synthetically via hydrolysis of triglycerides.
Chemical Constituents :
Uses:
Formulation and Preparation Techniques
The preparation of herbal cough syrups involves:
1. Extraction: Key ingredients such as tulsi, liquorice, and peppermint are decocted.
2. Mixing: Honey, glycerine, and preservatives like citric acid are added.
3. Blending: Ingredients are combined through continuous stirring to ensure homogeneity.
4. Finalization: The syrup is filtered, bottled, and evaluated.
Evaluation of Herbal Cough syrup
Results of organoleptic characters of formulated herbal syrup.
1.Colour
2.Odour
3.Test
4.Specific gravity
5.Density
6.Refractive index
7.PH
8.Alcohol contain
9.Acid value
Colour examination
Five ml final syrup was taken into watch glasses and placed against white back ground in white tube light. It was observed for its colour by naked eye.
Odour examination
Two ml of final syrup was smelled individually. The time interval among two smelling was kept 2 minutes to nullify the effect of previous smelling.
Taste examination
A pinch of final syrup was taken and examined for its taste on taste buds of the tongue.
Determination of pH
Placed an accurately measured amount 10 ml of the final syrup in a 100 ml volumetric flask and made up the volume up to 1100 ml with distilled water. The solution was sonicated for about 10 minutes. pH was measured with the help of digital pH meter.[32].
Specific Gravity
The specific Gravity of formulation was found to be 6.2 for the optimized formulation B. The
value was found to be in the range of 6.0-6.2 for all their formulations.
Stability Testing
Stability testing of the prepared herbal syrup was performed on keeping the sample at
accelerated temperature conditions. Nine portions of the final herbal syrup A, B and C were
taken kept at accelerated temperature at 40
c. Room temperature and 470
c respectively. The
samples were tested for all the physicochemical parameters, turbidity and homogeneity at the
interval of 24hr 48hr and 72hr to observe any change.
Viscosity:
Thoroughly clean the Ostwald viscometer with warm chromic acid and if necessary used.
Efficacy Testing: Ingredients are tested for their ability to alleviate cough symptoms and improve respiratory function.
Comparative Analysis of Herbal and Synthetic Cough Syrups
Herbal syrups provide multiple advantages over synthetic alternatives:
Minimal side effects, such as drowsiness and dependency.
Incorporation of natural ingredients with proven therapeutic properties.
Enhanced palatability and patient compliance due to the use of honey and other natural excipients.
Synthetic syrups, while effective, often involve harmful additives and are less preferred for pediatric and chronic use due to associated risks.
Summary:
This study focuses on the formulation, evaluation, and therapeutic benefits of herbal cough syrups, highlighting their natural composition and effectiveness in respiratory care. The ingredients, including liquorice for its expectorant properties, tulsi for antimicrobial action, peppermint as an antioxidant, and turmeric for its antitussive effects, work synergistically to provide relief from various types of cough. Honey, used as a base, not only enhances the flavor but also acts as a natural preservative and soothing agent. Formulations were developed and evaluated for their organoleptic (color, taste, and odor) and physicochemical properties, including pH, viscosity, density, and stability. The study emonstrated that the syrups are effective, safe, and well within prescribed specifications. Additionally, they offer multiple advantages, such as better patient compliance due to their palatability and the absence of adverse effects commonly associated with synthetic syrups.
This research also highlights the global shift toward herbal medicines, driven by growing
awareness of the limitations of synthetic drugs, such as sedation, dependency, and organ
toxicity. The integration of traditional knowledge with modern formulation techniques paves
the way for creating more robust and reliable herbal remedies.
CONCLUSION:
The review on the formulation and evaluation of herbal cough syrups highlights the potential of natural remedies in addressing respiratory ailments effectively and safely. Herbal cough syrups, enriched with medicinal plants like liquorice, tulsi, peppermint, and turmeric, offer significant therapeutic advantages, including expectorant, antitussive, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. These formulations are particularly valued for their minimal side effects compared to synthetic alternatives. The incorporation of honey as a base enhances their efficacy, stability, and palatability. This comprehensive analysis demonstrates that herbal cough syrups are a promising, sustainable, and patient-friendly alternative to conventional treatments, aligning with the growing trend toward natural and simple healthcare solutions.
REFERENCES
Dipali Chaudhari*, Khushi Patil, Jagruti Wankhede, Saeed Ahmed, Shaikh Habiburrahman, A Comprehensive Review on The Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Cough Syrup, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2025, Vol 3, Issue 1, 1094-1103. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14644399