Viral infection of upper respiratory system is one of the most prevalent human diseases; therefore, children aged between 2 and 6 years old are affected 6-8 times in a year and 10-15% of children catch cold at least 12 times in a year. Among prescribed antitussive medications, dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine can be pointed, which have numerous complications such as dizziness, somnolence and respiratory suppression, reported in various studies.
20 death were reported in USA from 2000-2007 due to consuming cold and antitussive ingredients, which 13 cases of them were children aged less than two years old.
FDA warned on prescription of these medications in children aged less than two years old.
Since viral infection of upper respiratory tract and using medications such as diphenhydramine for the treatment of cough resulted from the infection are highly prevalent, especially in children, and also due to low efficacy of antitussive medications in children as well as their various complications, it is necessary to tend to medicinal herbs.
Jujube is an herb with long-lasting history in Iranian culture, which is considered as one herb with various pharmaceutical effects.
According to traditional medicine, jujube is laxative, resolver of diluted humors and condensed humors.
It can stimulate phlegmatic and filtrate blood and produce pure blood.
It quells inflammation and thirst and appeases warmness and condensation of blood and is useful for quenching, cooling and relieving the blood’s stimulus and is also useful for a cough caused by warmness.
It soothes throat and is useful for chest-pain and breath shortness.
Onab Booali Daroo syrup is made from jujube and is useful in the treatment of chest-pain, cough and blood glut.
A study investigated the anti-flu effect of betulinic acid extracted from jujube on flu virus A in laboratory mice.
Betulinic acid is a three terpene isolated from jujube tree and has numerous pharmaceutical properties such as anti-bacterial, anti-malaria, anti-inflammation, anti-viral and anti-cancer effects.
The results of this study showed that betulinic acid significantly reduces pulmonary damages caused by flu virus A, which this effect is due to its anti-inflammatory property.