Ambroxol hydrochloride

Chemical properties

White Crystalline Powder

The Uses of Ambroxol hydrochloride

Ambroxol hydrochloride is a medication indicated to alleviate chest congestion associated with conditions that include bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchospasm asthma, cough, and allergy. Preclinically, ambroxol, the active ingredient of Mucosolvan, has been shown to increase respiratory tract secretion. It enhances pulmonary surfactant production and stimulates ciliary activity.
Ambroxol hydrochloride is an expectorant antioxidant and antiinflammatory agent. 

Definition

ChEBI: Ambroxol hydrochloride is an aromatic amine. it is a metabolite of bromhexine that stimulates mucociliary action and clears the air passages in the respiratory tract. it is usually administered as the hydrochloride.

Indications

Ambroxol Hydrochloride is a bronchosecretolytic drug. It is indicated as “secretolytic therapy in bronchopulmonary diseases associated with abnormal mucus secretion and impaired mucus transport. It promotes mucus clearance, facilitates expectoration and eases productive cough, allowing patients to breathe freely and deeply.

Biological Activity

Sodium channel blocker and mucolytic agent with antioxidant, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. Inhibits tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant channels more potently than TTX-sensitive subtypes (IC 50 values for tonic block are 35.2 and 111.5 μ M respectively). Inhibits release of histamine, leukotrienes and cytokines from human leukocytes and mast cells.

Pharmacokinetics

Ambroxol hydrochloride inhibits tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant channels more potently than TTX-sensitive subtypes (IC50 values for tonic block are 35.2 and 111.5 μM respectively). Inhibits release of histamine, leukotrienes and cytokines from human leukocytes and mast cells. Inhibits viral replication and improves survival rate of mice infected with influenza (H3N2) virus.

Mode of action

Ambroxol is the active metabolite of bromhexine. Ambroxol causes an increase in secretion in the respiratory tract. It promotes surfactant production and stimulates ciliary activity. These effects assist the flow of mucus and its removal (mucociliary clearance). An improvement in mucociliary clearance was demonstrated in clinical pharmacological studies. The increase in secretion and mucociliary clearance facilitate expectoration and reduce the cough. In in vitro studies ambroxol showed a significant reduction in cytokine release, both in the blood and in mononuclear and polynuclear cells. The clinical relevance of these findings is unclear.