Antipyretic Properties of Dichloromethane: Methanolic Leaf and Root Bark Extracts of Carissa edulis in Rat
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Date
2015
Authors
Gitahi, S. M.
Mwangi, B. M.
Njagi, J.M.
Mworia, J. K.
Juma K. Kelvin
Umar, Aliyu
Mwonjoria, John K.
Njoroge, A. W.
Piero, N.M.
Mburu, D. N.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Literati Scientific and Publishers
Abstract
Although pyrexia benefits the nonspecific immune response to invading microorganisms
and tissue damage, it is also viewed as a source of discomfort and hence is
commonly suppressed with some medication. However, conventional medications
are expensive and arguably associated with various severe adverse side effects hence
the need to develop herbal agents that are effective, cheaply available as alternative
and complementary to conventional therapeutic drugs. Today herbal remedies are
gaining popularity because the efficacy of conventional medicine is on the wane.
Through ages Carissa edulis has been used as folklore remedy for various common
ailments afflicting people in various parts of the world. However, although C. edulis
(Forssk.)Vahl is widely used for pyrexia in the traditional medicine, an extensive
search of the literature reveals no scientifically investigated report of its described
effects. Thus, this study was to scientifically evaluate the ethnomedicinal importance
of C. edulis (Forssk.)Vahl as an alternative and complementally intervention for the
treatment of fever. The experimental groups were treated with leaf and root bark extracts
at concentration of 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg. Antipyretic activities
in rats were compared with aspirin (100mg/kg) as the standard conventional drug.
The leaf extracts reduced the rectal temperature by between 0.02% - 2.98% while the
root bark extracts reduced it by between 0.15% - 2.55%. Aspirin reduced the elevated
rectal temperature by between 1.08% - 2.53%. Results indicate that both leaf and root
bark extracts of C. edulis have profound antipyretic activities comparable to the conventional
antipyretic drug, aspirin
Description
Article
Keywords
Pyrexia, Carissa edulis, Rectal temperature, Leaf extracts, Root bark extracts
Citation
Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5(43), 2015, 12-20.