Tsirimaminiaina Hery Lalao Jorosoa

The anti-asthmatic activity of Ficus trichopoda was studied in guinea pigs in vivo and in vitro using the isolated guinea pig trachea. 33%, 66% and 100% of the animals treated with the hydroalcoholic extract of Ficus trichopoda at doses 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg respectively, were protected from spasm of the air way caused by pulverization of 5% histamine aerosol. In vitro, the isolated guinea pig trachea contracted with histamine at 10-4 M was relaxed with the extract with an EC50 of 65.75µl/ml. The pre-incubation of the isolated trachea in the bath containing the extract at concentrations of 100µl/ml and 200µl/ml increased the EC50 of histamine from (1.10. ± 0.025) 10-6 M to (5.95±0.05) 10-6 M and (1.49±0.01) 10-5M respectively. The maximal contraction provoked by histamine, however, remained unchanged. These effects could be caused by the alkaloids and/or flavonoids present in the extract. Key words: Ficus trichopoda, asthma, guinea pig