Evaluation of Antipyretic Potential of Lagerstroemia parviflora

Extract in Rats

Avijit Mazumder1, B.P. Saha2, S.P. Basu3, and Rupa Mazumder1

1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India; 2Department ofPharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India; 3Seemanta Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Jharpokaria, Mayurbhanj, India

Abstract

The methanol extract of Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxbleaves was tested for antipyretic effects on rats. The extract(200 and 300mg=kg, p.o.) showed very significantreduction of yeast-induced pyrexia in rats with respect tothe control group. The antipyretic activity of the extractwas comparable to the standard prototype, paracetamol.

Keywords: Antipyretic, Lagerstroemia parviflora, leaves,methanol extract.

Introduction

Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb (Lythraceae) is amedium-sized deciduous plant indigenous to India andavailable even up to a height of 900m in the Himalayas.The plant is used for the treatment of syphilis, sores, andcarbuncles (Jain & Tarafdar, 1970). Mazumder et al.(2003) reported the antibacterial activities of the leavesof the plant and Bhakuni et al. (1969) reported the anti-asthmatic activity of the flowers of Lagerstroem parvi-flora. The evaluation of antipyretic potential ofJussiaceae suffruticosa (Murugesan et al., 2000) has beenreported from our laboratory. The leaf juice of this plantis used in traditional medicine to treat fever in Jhark-hand, India (Jain & Tarafdar, 1970). To substantiate thisclaim, the current study was undertaken to evaluate theantipyretic effect of the leaf extract in rats.

Materials and Methods

Plant material and extraction

The leaves of Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb werecollected in Ranchi, India, during September 2000.

The plant was identified by Botanical Survey of India,Howrah, West Bengal, and a voucher specimen is keptin our laboratory for future reference. The leaves wereshade-dried, powdered, passed through a 40-mesh sieve,and then subjected to extraction with 1 l of methanol in aSoxhlet apparatus. The solvent was removed under vac-uum and a solid mass (14.71% w=w with respect to drystarting material) was obtained. The methanol extractwas stored in a desiccator and used for further experi-mental studies after suspending 2 g extract in 2% aque-ous Tween 80 in specific doses as described later.

Animals used

Albino rats (Wistar strain) of either sex weighing180–200 g were used in our study. The animals weremaintained in the animal house of Birla Institute ofTechnology, Mesra, Ranchi, under suitable environmen-tal conditions throughout the experiment. The animalswere housed in standard metal cages and provided withfood and water ad libitum.

Antipyretic evaluation

The antipyretic effect was examined by the methoddescribed by Chatterjee et al. (1993). The animals weregiven a subcutaneous injection of 10 ml=kg of 15%w=v yeast suspension in 0.5% w=v methyl cellulose sol-ution after measuring the basal digital rectal temperatureby inserting a thermister probe 3–4 cm deep into the rec-tum. Nineteen hours after the yeast injection, the animalswere again placed in individual cages for recording ofrectal temperature.

Accepted: October 8, 2004

Address correspondence to: Avijit Mazumder, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi835 215, India. E-mail: avijitmazum@yahoo.com

DOI: 10.1080/13880200590903381 # 2005 Taylor & Francis Ltd.

Pharmaceutical Biology2005, Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 64–66

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Table

1.

EffectofLPLE

onyeast-inducedpyrexia

inrats.

Treatm

ent

No.of

anim

als

Rectaltemperature

(oC)(m

ean�SEM)after

yeast

administrationat

0h

19h

20h

21h

22h

23h

Control

(5ml=kg)

637.6�0.02

39.6�0.05

39.5�0.03

39.4�0.07

39.2�0.03

39.0�0.02

Paracetamol

(150mg=kg)

637.8�0.02

39.8�0.02

38.4�0.01��

38.0�0.03��

37.7�0.04��

37.6�0.02��

LPLE

(100mg=kg)

637.5�0.02

39.8�0.09

39.7�0.01�

38.6�0.03�

38.4�0.05�

37.9�0.08��

LPLE

(200mg=kg)

637.5�0.02

39.8�0.03

38.7�0.03��

38.3�0.02��

38.0�0.04��

37.7�0.06��

LPLE

(300mg=kg)

637.7�0.02

39.7�0.05

38.5�0.01��

37.8�0.01��

37.4�0.03

��37.5�0.05��

Control2%

aqueousTween80solution;LPLE,methanolextract

ofleaves

ofLagerstroem

iaparviflora.

� p<

0.01vs.control.

��p<

0.001vs.control.

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The methanol extract of the leaves of Lagerstroemiaparviflora (LPLE) at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg=kgwas administered orally 19 h after the yeast injection tothree groups of rats, respectively. A similar volume (5ml=kg) of 2% aqueous Tween 80 was administered orallyto the control group of animals. The fifth group receivedthe standard prototype antipyretic agent, paracetamol(150 mg=kg) orally. The rats were restrained for theirrectal temperature to be recorded at the 19th hour,immediately before LPLE or vehicle or paracetamoladministration and again at an hourly intervals up tothe 23rd hour after yeast injection.

Statistical analysis

The data were expressed as mean� standard error of themean (SEM). Significance was evaluated by Student’st-test (Woodson, 1987). p values less than 0.05 implysignificance.

Results

The subcutaneous injection of yeast caused a markedincrease in rectal temperature at the 19th hour of admin-istration. The antipyretic effect started within 1 h andwas maintained until 4 h after administration. Table 1suggests that LPLE at a dose of 100 mg=kg caused a sig-nificant reduction of body temperature up to 4 h afteradministration. However, the effect increases very signifi-cantly at doses of 200 and 300 mg=kg until the fifth hourafter administration. The antipyretic effect was compara-ble with that of a standard, paracetamol.

Discussion

Fever may occur due to an external manifestation ofsome tissue damage, graft rejection, inflammation, orbacterial infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus.Drugs having CNS depressant action demonstrate apotent hypothermic effect (Chatterjee, 1993). Moreover,

the CNS depressant effect of LPLE in rats is well estab-lished (Mazumder et al., 2004). Thus, it can be concludedthat the hypothermic effect of the leaves of Lager-stroemia parviflora is partly due to CNS depressantactivity and partly due to action against S. aureus. Asb-sitosterol has already been reported by Murugesanet al. (2000) to possess an antipyretic effect, it can beconcluded that b-sitosterol, proved to be present in theleaf extract, is responsible for the antipyretic action.

Acknowledgment

The authors are thankful to AICTE for financial supportof this work.

References

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Rats, 1st ed. Chatterjee Publications, Calcutta, p. 151.

Bhakuni DS, Dhar ML, Dhar MM, Dhawan BN, Mehrotra

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Mazumder A, Jagannath S, Saha BP, Basu SP, Mazumder

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