Among them was lagundi, and since respiratory problems were one of the main concerns of the population, it was chosen as the basis of a medicine to relieve the symptoms of cough and asthma.
- The beneficial properties of lagundi were recognized for the first time during a survey of herbalists, in which 70% of them endorsed the plant’s efficacy in treating coughs.
- The absence of reports of side effects confirmed this revelation and the abundance of the plant throughout the Philippines only increased the attractiveness of R&D in this regard.
Scientific and clinical examinations
1) relaxant of the airways of the lungs; 2) antihistamine; 3) anti-inflammatory, and 4) anti-asthmatic. Even though the action of each ingredient separately was weak, when used in combination they produced an intense cough suppression effect without the presence of side effects.
- With these encouraging results, NIRPROMP manufactured a lagundi-based cough medicine and began clinical trials in the late 1980s, involving 119 patients with mild-to-moderate coughs.
- Each patient was given either the lagundi-based drug or a placebo, and those taking the drug experienced a very positive medical response with no adverse reactions or side effects. By 1993, researchers had already successfully manufactured a lagundi-based cough medicine.
In October 1995, the Philippines Department of Health published a list of officially approved plants that show effective natural medicinal properties and have proven therapeutic value. Among the plants on the list was lagundi, along with nine other plants that NIRPROMP had managed to isolate thanks to its earlier R&D.
Lagundi was one of ten plants selected for further research due to its properties in relieving cough and asthma symptoms.
Invention
After successfully manufacturing lagundi-based cough drops, NIRPROMP researchers set to work to make the drug in syrup form as well. For children and the elderly, who make up a significant part of the demand for cough medicines, it can be difficult to take tablets.
In 1999, NIRPROMP successfully modified the formulation of lagundi-based cough drops and manufactured a cough syrup from the same plant that retained all the medicinal properties of the tablets in an easier presentation to manage.
The formulation of the new syrup is made by decoction to extract the organic components of the lagundi leaves.
The decoction consists of drying the lagundi leaves and grinding them with a mesh to obtain a fine powder. Distilled water is added to moisten this powder, and then it is boiled for about 15 minutes over low to medium heat (in order to avoid possible degradation of the active ingredient), stirring occasionally.
- The resulting lagundi decoction is allowed to cool and then filtered or strained. Sucrose is then dissolved in the decoction using a turbine mixer and the compound is aged for approximately three days.
- A small amount of methylparaben and propylparaben (a preservative) are ground to a fine powder, and propylene glycol (an organic compound used as a solvent) is added until the propylparaben dissolves completely.
Add this mixture to the aged sucrose compound and lagundi decoction, mix well, and add a small amount of citric acid and orange oil. Finally, a sufficient amount of distilled water is added to obtain the necessary volume and everything is mixed well until a syrup with the appropriate density is obtained.