An ethnomedicine from the Himalayas naturally clears the airways and is useful in treating cardiovascular disease

The Himalayas isn’t just a good place to climb mountains: Recent studies have shown that it’s also a treasure trove of medicinal plants used to treat various diseases. A study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that a species of boxwood (Buxus spp.) has potential therapeutic properties against disorders that affect the gut, airways, and even the heart and its blood vessels.

A team of scientists from Pakistan, together with the Harvard School of Public Health, found that a type of box plant locally known as shamshad (B. papillosa) can relieve muscle spasms, dilate the respiratory airways and blood vessels, and prevent cardiac inhibitory reflex (a condition that can potentially lead to unexpected death).

In northern Pakistan and the Himalayas, shamshad is used in traditional medicine to treat a range of conditions, including skin diseases, headaches, rheumatism, and even malaria. It’s also been widely studied, where scientists have found it to relieve diarrhea, reduce gastric secretions, and improve cardiac and brain functions.

For the study, the team obtained extracts from the aerial parts (those areas that are exposed to the air) and the roots of shamshad. The leaf extracts, in particular, were processed further to get fractions using hexane and water. These were then tested using cells extracted from guinea pig and rabbit animal models, which included preparations from the jejunum, atrium, aorta, and trachea. In addition to in vitro studies, the team also looked at the phytochemical profile of the plant.

The results revealed that shamshad extracts exhibited antispasmodic (that is, the ability to prevent spasms) properties, partly due to its ability to block calcium channels. In phar