The bronchodilator effect of Garcinia Kola.

This work investigated the bronchodilator effect of Garcinia Kola (Bitter Kola) in normal Nigerians. Nineteen undergraduate male students (17-25 years) were used for the study which involved the consumption of Garcinia Kola (15 grammes per subject) and the measurement of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) at intervals of 30 minutes up to a maximum of 90 minutes. Each subject served as his own control. There was time-dependent increases in the measured parameters. However, only the PEFR showed significant (p < 0.05) increase and this was observed at the 60th minute. This probably shows a mild bronchodilator effect of this Kola.