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Description
Medicinal plants are widely used for asthma management in Ghana, yet scientific validation and proper documentation of their use remain limited. As such providing an evidence repository is essential to improving traditional medicine records and also providing credible support for their therapeutic claims. The present study sought to document medicinal plants used in the management of asthma in the Kumasi Metropolis and to evaluate the anti-asthmatic activity of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides (ACE). A cross-sectional study involving 78 herbal practitioners was conducted from January to March, 2024 to identify and document commonly used plants in asthma management. Results showed that 54 different plants from 37 families were used in the treatment of asthma. The study also reported the use of varying formulation types and modes of administration with leaves (96) being recorded as the frequently used plant part. Among the plants mentioned were; Euphorbia hirta, Senna occidentalis, Occimum gratissimum, Allium sativum, Desmodium adscendens and Ageratum conyzoides. From a limited experimental validation observed from preliminary literature search, Ageratum conyzoides was selected for further experimentation. ACE was evaluated in experimentally-induced airway inflammation. Phenol-red expectoration, isolated ileum smooth muscle contraction, and chemical-induced mast cell degranulation was also studied. From the ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation study, ACE limited WBC proliferation, reduced oxidative stress, attenuated BALF cytokines and improved tolerance to bronchoconstrictor challenge. ACE also increased tracheal phenol-red secretion, relaxed histamine-induced smooth muscle contractions and stabilized mast cell membranes. Histological analysis showed reduced cellular infiltration of airway tissue, reduced airway smooth muscle hypertrophy and diminished peribronchial collagen deposition in ACE-treated guinea pigs. Overall, ACE exhibited a significant multifaceted anti-asthmatic activity.