Efficacy & Safety of Dry Powder Ivy Extract (Syrup Prospan) Versus NAC Among COPD Patients

As the third global leading cause of death, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects more than 300 million people worldwide. These patients suffer from 0.5-3.5 exacerbations per year on average. Each exacerbations dampened their health status as well as quality of life, not to mention a great burden to our healthcare system. Those partially treated or prolonged exacerbations would subsequently lead to unfavorable disease progression. Hence a holistic approach in managing each exacerbations is very crucial.

Mucus hypersecretion in COPD patients plays a pivotal role in acute exacerbations and associated with unfavorable outcomes. These exacerbations comes with sputum increment as much as its purulence. Mucolytics are believed to to ease patient to expectorate and benefits them from tip into an exacerbations or even the consequent hospitalisation.

Mucolytics work by reducing sputum viscosity hence improved its expectoration. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a mucolytic with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, commonly used in practice among COPD patients. Meanwhile, Syrup Prospan is ivy leaf preparations, obtained as extracts from leaves of the plant Hedera helix L. It is widely used over-the-counter cough remedy containing saponins which are believed to have expectorant properties. Studies show evidence of antispasmodic, bonchodilating, anti-inflammatory and antitussive properties and its usage is authorised by the European Medicines Agency .