In vitro anticholinergic activity of selected culinary spices on sheep tracheal smooth muscle by organ bath studies was carried out. The anticholinergic activity of plant extracts was determined in vitro by using organ bath in which sheep tracheal smooth muscle was mounted in Krebs-Henseleit solution and its contractile activity for acetylcholine, a known cholinergic spasmogen was recorded in the presence and absence of extracts to determine the anticholinergic potential of the extracts of culinary spices. The percentile contractile response of acetylcholine in the presence and absence of tested plant extracts were recorded. Among the eight spices tested, acetone extracts of Illicium verum (fruit), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (bark), Myristica fragrans (seed), Pimpinella anisum (seed) and Terminalia chebula (seed) revealed considerable anticholinergic property. The anticholinergic property of these extracts may be helpful in treatment of upper respiratory tract problems including bronchial asthma
