<p>Salbutamol is a selective &beta;2-adrenoceptor agonist. At therapeutic doses, it acts on the &beta;2-adrenoceptors of bronchial smooth muscle, with little or no action on the &beta;1-adrenoceptors of cardiac muscle. Salbutamol provides short-acting (4-6 hours) bronchodilatation with a fast onset (within 5 minutes) in reversible airway obstruction. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect on mast cells causing inhibition of release of bronchoconstrictor mediators including histamine, neutrophil chemotactive factor (NCF) and prostaglandin D2.</p>