Background: Caffeine is a known respiratory stimulant. Literatures abound on the medicinal use of Dennettia tripettela seeds but limited literatures of its effect on the airway post caffeine ingestion. This study is aimed at investigating the combined effect of ingestion of caffeine and Dennettia tripetala seeds on the airway using peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) index.Study design: Thirty (30) undergraduates’ students of University of Benin comprising of 15 males and 15 females with age range of 18-25 years, were used for this study. Each Subject was given 2g of caffeine and their PEFR recorded at 30 minutes intervals post ingestion, and subsequently 2g of Dennettia tripetala seeds were given, 2hours post ingestion of Caffeine. PEFR was also recorded for subjects who ingested 2g of Dennettia tripetala seeds 10 minutes post ingestion. Subjects’ pre administration PEFR was also recorded. All measurements were taken using the Mini Wright peak flow meter. Results: Results showed that PEFR was significantly increased (p<0.05) when 2g of caffeine, 2g of pepper fruit seeds were ingested and a much higher increase was observed when 2g of pepper fruit seeds was administered 2hours post ingestion of Caffeine when compared to the control. These increases in PEFR were much more observed in males than in the females’ subjects. Conclusion: This suggests that Dennettia tripetala seeds have bronchodilatory effect and when taken together with Caffeine may be of supportive treatment for the treatment of obstructive or restrictive airway diseases.
Keywords: Dennettia tripetala seeds, PEFR, caffeine
