Antipyretic activity of aqueous extract of heart wood of Pterocarpus santalinus L. in yeast induced pyrexia

Abstract

Pterocarpus santalinus have been traditionally used in the treatment of headache, skin diseases, fever, boils, scorpion-sting and to improve sight. However, anti-pyretic efficacy has not been scientifically validated. Therefore the study aims to investigate the antipyretic activity of its heart wood aqueous extract using brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia method. A total of thirty Wister Albino male rats weighing between 100-200g were used for this study. The method was standardized by subcutaneous injection of yeast suspension (10m/kg body weight) which increased the rectal temperature after 20 hours. Rectal temperatures were recorded at regular intervals using a digital thermometer. The aqueous extract 400mg/kg & 800mg/kg) of heart wood of P. santalinus possessed significant antipyretic activity but the effect was slow when compared to the standard antipyretic drug paracetamol (150 mg/kg body weight).