Extract of Coptidis rhizoma and novel use thereof in treating respiratory disease

Abstract

A composition for suppressing cough, removing sputum, preventing and/or treating a respiratory disease comprising an extract of Coptidis rhizoma or a combined extract of Coptidis rhizoma with ivy leaf as an active ingredient, and a method of suppressing cough, removing sputum, and/or preventing and/or treating respiratory disease using the composition, are provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of treating respiratory disease comprising the step of administering a composition consisting essentially of a combination of a Coptidis rhizoma extract and a ivy leaf extract as an active ingredient,
 wherein the weight ratio of the ivy leaf extract and the Coptidis rhizoma extract is 0.1:1 to 10:1 (the weight of the ivy leaf extract: the weight of the Coptidis rhizoma extract), 
 wherein the respiratory disease is selected from the group consisting of pulmonary emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, chronic or acute bronchoconstriction, stridulus infant syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial adenoma, solitary pulmonary nodule, pulmonary tuberculosis, pyothorax, pulmonary abscess, common cold, influenza, and pulmonary histiocytosis. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the ivy leaf extract and the Coptidis rhizoma extract is 0.2:1 to 5:1 (the weight of ivy leaf extract: the weight of the Coptidis rhizoma extract). 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dosage of the composition per day is 0.5 to 500 mg/kg, based on the amount of the active ingredient. 
     
     
       4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the weight ratio of the ivy leaf extract and the Coptidis rhizoma extract is 1:1 to 4:1 (the weight of ivy leaf extract: the weight of the Coptidis rhizoma extract).