Effects of Phyllanthus niruri on the severity of the common cold in children

Ari Dwi Ratna Kusumaningrum; Sumadiono Sumadiono; Yati Soenarto

doi:10.14238/pi52.6.2012.346-51

Ari Dwi Ratna Kusumaningrum Department of Child Health, Gadjah Mada University Medical School/Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta
Sumadiono Sumadiono Department of Child Health, Gadjah Mada University Medical School/Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta
Yati Soenarto Department of Child Health, Gadjah Mada University Medical School/Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14238/pi52.6.2012.346-51

Keywords: common cold, children, Phyllanthus niruri extract, severity score

Abstract

Background Common cold is a selfô€€µlimited disease, however
it poses a significant burden on productivity and community
health. Unfortunately, there has been no standard medication
for childhood common cold, whereas some herbs \\lith immuneô€€µ
modulating properties, such as Phyllanthus niruri extract (PNE),
might be beneficial but has not been thoroughly studied.
Objective To evaluate the effect of PNE administration on the
severity of common cold symptoms in children.
Methods We performed a randomized, doubleô€€µblind, controlled
trial in children aged 2ô€€µ6 years who were diagnosed Mth a common
cold at primary health care centers in Sewon and Jetis in Bantul,
as well as in Gondomanan and Gedongtengen in Yogyakarta.
Subjects were collected by consecutive sampling and parents
were interviewed. We assessed illness severity by Hemila scoring
for the common cold.
Results A total of 100 subjects were included Mth 50 subjects in
each intervention group. After treatment, there was no significant
difference in common cold severity between the PNE and the
control groups for all symptom score components, including cough
(0.87 vs 0.71, Pô€€½0.36), nasal symptom (0.90 vs 1.10, Pô€€½0.54),
coryza ( 0.44 vs 1.10, P=0.54), and systemic symptom (0.10 vs
0.10, Pô€€½0.94).
Conclusion Administration of PNE for 6 days did not provide a
significant benefit in reducing the severity of the common cold
compared to placebo in children aged 2 - 6 years. [Paediatr
Indanes.2012;52:346-51].

References

1. Virk A, Henry NK. Upper respiratory tract infections. In:
Wilson W, Sande M, editors. Current diagnosis & treatment
in infectious diseases. New York: McGrawô€”Hill; 2001. p.
98Â·117.
2. Yau FYS. Upper respiratory tract infection in children. [cited
December 2011] Available from, http,f/www.hksid.org/pdf/
URTI _in children.pdf
3. Zhu Z, Tang WL, Gwaltney JM, Wu Y, Elias JA. Rhinovirus
stimulation of interleukinô€”8 in vivo and in vitro: role ofNFô€”
kappa B. Am J Physio!. 1997;17,814-24.
4. McCoy L. Rhinovirus: an unstoppable cause of the
common cold. The Science Creative Quarterly. 2004;
[cited December 2011]. Available from: http://www.seq.
ube .ea/ rhinovirus-an-unstoppable -eause -of the -commoncold
5. Johnston S, Holgate S. Epidemiol ogy of viral respiratory
infection. In: Myint S, Taylorô€”Robinson D, editors. Viral and
other infections of the human respiratory tract. London:
Chapman & Hall; 1996. p. 1-38.
6. West JY. Acute upper airway infections. Br Med Bull.
2002;6UI5-30.
7. Pappas DE, Hendley JO. Patient infor mation: the common
cold in children. Up to date. 2011; [cited January 2012].
Available from: http://www.uptodate.com!contents/patientinformation-
the-comm.on-cold-in-ehildren
8. Kelly, Leslee F. Pediatric cough and cold preparation. Pediatr
Rev. 2004;25,115-23.
9. Madeline S, Blandino D. Treatment of the common cold.
AAFP 2007. Available from, http,//www.aajp.org/ajpsort
10. Simasek M, Blandino DA. Treatment of the common cold.
Am Fam Physician. 2007;75,515Â·20.
11. Hendrickson K. How the common cold affects the immune
system. [cited December 2011]. Available from: http://tilWw.
livestrong.com.
12. Feldman S, Schwartz HI, Kalman DS, Mayers A, Kohrman
HM, Clemens R, et al. Randomized phase II clinical trials
ofWellmune WGPÂ® for immune support during colds and
flu season. J Appl Res. 2009;9,30-42.
13. Munasir Z. The role of phyllantiherba in the treatment
of upper respiratory tract infections in pediatric patients
[unpublished work]. Jakarta: Clinical Research Division of
DexaMedica Phar maceutical; 2003.
14. Gwaltney JM, Hayden FG. Understanding colds. 2006. [cited
2010 October]. Available from: http://wtilW.commoncold.org/
trtmnt.html.
15. Williams JE. Review of antiviral and immunomodulating properties of plants of the Peruvian rain forest with a
particular emphasis on una de gato and sangre de grado.
Altern Med Rev. 2001;6,567-79.
16. Nworu CS, Akah PA, Okoye FB, Proksch P, Esimone CO.
The effects of Phyllanthus niruri aqueous extract on the
activation of murine lymphocytes and bone marrowô€Œderived
macrophages. Immunol Invest. 201O;39:2 45-67.
17. Tjandrawinata RR, Ma'at S, Nofrianty D. Effects of
standardized Phyllanthus niruri Linn., extract on changes in
immunologic parameters: correlation between preô€Œclinical
and clinical studies. Dexa Medica J. 2005;6:367-71.
18. WHO. Child growth standarts. Weight for height. Available
from: http://uww.who .int!childgrowthistandards/weightJor_
heightlenJindex.html
20. Hemila H, Douglas RM. Vitamin C and acute respiratory
infections. IntJ Tuberc Lung Dis.1999;3:756-61.
21. Eccles R. Understanding the symptoms of the common cold
and influenza. Lancet Infect Dis. 2005;5:718-25.
22. Dirjomuljono M, Kristyono I, TjandraMnata RR, Nofiamy D.
Symptomatic treatment of acute tonsilloô€Œpharyngitis patients
with a combination of Nigella sativa and Phyllanthus niruri
extract. Int J Clin Phar Ther. 2008;46,295-306.