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Abstract: Traditional herbal healers “Hakims” use various plants of the Cholistan desert, Pakistan for treating a number
of infectious and non-infectious diseases. However, there has never been a scientific validation of these plant-based
therapeutics. We compared the antipyretic effect of Echinops echinatus, Alhagi maurorum, Fagonia cretica,
Cymbopogon jwarancusa and Panicum turgidum in animal model. These plants were used to reduce E.coli lysate
induced pyrexia in rabbits. There were five groups of rabbits having five rabbits in each group. Among these five groups,
three received various doses of experimental treatment, paracetamol was given to fourth group known as positive
control. The fifth group of animals served as negative control and received no treatment. Ethanol extracts of Fagonia
cretica (500mg/kg), Panicum turgidum (500mg/kg and 750mg/kg), Alhagi maurorum (500 and 750mg/kg), Cymbopogon
jwarancusa (250mg/kg) and Echinops echinatus (750mg/kg) showed significant antipyretic effects when compared with
controls and experimental counterparts. These results revealed that ethanol extracts of the plants evaluated in this study
have dose dependent antipyretic activity. Further detailed screening of these plant species is recommended.
Keywords: Escherichia coli, Cholistan desert, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, prostaglandin, E. coli induced pyrexia,
traditional medicine.
Some worth mentioning medicinal plants of this sandy Alhagi maurorum (Jawahan) belongs to family
desert are Fagonia cretica, Corchorus depressus, Papilionaceae is a common weed plant in the agricultural
Capparis decidua, Citrullus colocynthis, Calotropis land along with the periphery of Cholistan desert. Alhagi
procera, Echinops echinatus, Alhagi maurorum, maurorum is prescribed in cough, bronchitis, piles and
Cymbopogon jwarancusa and Panicum turgidum. skin diseases (Arshad et al., 2003). Fagonia cretica
(Dhman/Dhmasa) is a common plant of Cholistan desert
*Corresponding author: e-mail: makram_0451@hotmail.com and belongs to family Zygophyllaceae. It grows in the
250mg/kg (table 6). At hour 3, 4 and 5 maximum reduction of rectal temperature of animals. In case of
decrease in temperature was noted by treatment dose of Panicum turgidum the dose rate of 750mg/kg and 250
750mg/kg followed by treatment 250mg/kg and 500 mg/kg were effective in decreasing E. coli induced
Table 1: Detail of plant samples collected
Botanical Name Local name Family Parts sampled
Echinops echinatus Unt-kantalo Compositae Stem and leaves
Alhagi maurorum Jawnhan Papilionaceae Stem and leaves
Fagonia cretica Dhman/Dhmasa Zygophyllaceae Stem and leaves
Cymbopogon jwarancusa Khavi Poaceae Stem and leaves
Panicum turgidum Murrot Poaceae Stem and leaves
Table 2: Antipyretic activity of ethanol extracts of Echinops echinatus
Rectal Temperature oF
Injecting E. coli Drug
Treatment Doses/kg After Drug
Suspension administration
0h 1h 2h 3h 4h 5h
100± 103.2± 103.6 104± 103.9± 104.3±
Control
0.251 0.351 ±0.301 0.205 0.306 0.607
100.7± 102.6± 101.4 101.5± 102.3± 103±
Extract 250mg
0.306 0.402 ±145* 0.405* 0.26* 0.251*
100.4± 104± 102.2 101.8± 102.9± 103.6±
500mg
0.540 0.203 ±0.506* 0.200* 0.202* 0.416*
99.6± 103.7± 101.4± 101.3± 102.4± 102.2±
750mg
0.643 0.317 0.600* 0.033* 0.033* 0.203*
100.5± 103.8± 101± 101.6± 102.9± 103.1±
Paracetamol 150mg
0.102 0.208 0.417* 0.230* 0.000* 0.203*
Table 3: Antipyretic activity of ethanol extract of Fagonia cretica
Rectal Temperature oF
Treatment Doses/kg Injecting E. coli Drug
After Drug
Suspension administration
0h 1h 2h 3h 4h 5h
100± 102.3± 1.2.8± 103.1± 103.1± 103.5±
Control
0.302 0 .218 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.300
100.3± 102.8± 101.3± 101.7± 101.7± 103.2±
Extract 250mg
0.202 0.205 0.602* 0.401* 0.371 0.145
99.8± 103.3± 100.9± 101.4± 101.4± 103.2±
500mg
0.635 0.205 0.806* 0.185* 0.185 0.366
99.4± 103.2± 101.5± 101.6± 101.6± 103±
750mg
1.28 0.300 0.500* 0.206* 0.206 0.120
100.2± 103.3± 101.5± 101.6± 101.6± 103±
Paracetamol 150mg
0.500 0.260 0.500* 0.206 0.206 0.120
Mean ± SEM * P<0.05
mg/kg. Overall treatment dose of 750mg/kg appeared as pyrexia in rabbits, whereas the extracts of Echinops
the best dose to control rectal temperature of animals, echinatus and Fagonia cretica at the dose rate of 750
which persisted for four hours. mg/kg appeared as the best one for the controlling of the
DISCUSSION animal temperature. The dose rate of 500 and 750mg/kg
of ethanol extract of Alhagi maurorum were very
In present study antipyretic activity of alcoholic extract of effective to control animal temperature.
Echinops echinatus, Fagonia cretica, Cymbopogon
jwarancusa, Panicum turgidum and Alhagi maurorum In general, certain endogenous substances such as
was investigated in E.coli induced pyrexia in rabbits. The prostaglandins are considered to produce fever (Kluger,
results showed that dose rate of 250mg/kg of alcoholic 1991; Roth & Zeisberger, 1995). Antipyretic drugs have
extract of C. jwarancusa appeared as the best dose for the ability to inhibit formation of prostaglandins (Vane,
Pak. J. Pharm. Sci., Vol.29, No.2, March 2016, pp.529-533 531
Evaluation of antipyretic activity of some medicinal plants from Cholistan desert Pakistan
Rectal Temperature oF
Injecting E. coli Drug After Drug
Treatment Doses/kg
Suspension administration
0h 1h 2h 3h 4h 5h
100.5± 102.9± 103.2± 103.5± 104.2± 104.3±
Control
0.240 0523 0375 0348 0.546 0.491
101± 103.6± 102± 102.4± 102.9± 103.7±
Extract 250mg
0.491 0.233 0.173* 0.100* 0.231* 0.265
100.5± 103.4± 101.8± 102.1± 102.9± 104.1±
500mg
0.984 0.440 0.088* 0.523* 0231* 0.233
100.1± 103± 101.7± 101.9± 103.1± 103.6±
750mg
0.592 0.066 0.305* 0.378* 0.393 0.333
100.9± 103.3± 101.3± 102.3± 102.9± 103.6±
Paracetamol 150mg
0.519 0.088 0.166* 0.881* 0.033* 0.208
Rectal Temperature oF
Injecting E. coli Drug
Treatment Doses/kg After Drug
suspension administration
0h 1h 2h 3h 4h 5h
101± 102.3 104± 104.3± 104.4± 104.9±
Control
0.451 ±0.90 0.252 0.20.8 0.30 0.033
99.9± 102.8± 102.5± 102.9± 103.2± 103.7±
Extract 250mg
0.857 0.825 0.30 * 0.433* 0.433* 0.433
99.9± 103.4 102.1± 101.7± 103.1± 103.6±
500mg
0.657 ±0.30 0.20 * 0.635* 0.30* 0.333
100.5± 103.5± 101.6± 102.1± 102.9± 103.6±
750mg
0.60 0.318 0.231* 0.203* 0.318* 0.448
100.3± 103.7 101.2± 101.2± 102.7± 103.8
Paracetamol 150mg
0.251 ±0.40 0.033* 0.410* 0.210* ±0.20
Mean ± SEM * P<0.0 5
1987). Therefore, the antipyretic action of alcoholic of present study correspond with the findings of Hukkeri
extracts of Echinops echinatus, Fagonia cretica, et al., (2006); Reanmongkol et al., (2006) and Lakshman
Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Panicum turgidum and Alhagi et al., (2006). The findings of present investigation are
maurorum may be due to prostaglandin inhibition. Results also in conformity with the results of Olajide et al.,
(2000), Chattopdyhyay et al., (2002) and Arul et al., extracts of Mallotus peltatus (Geist) Muell. Arg. Var
(2005). acuminatus: A folk medicine. Phytomed., 9: 727-730.
Hukkeri V, Nagathan C, Karadi R and Patil B (2006).
CONCLUSION Antipyretic and Wound healing activities of Moringa
oleifera lam in rats. Ind. J. Pharm. Sci., 68: 124-126.
The results achieved in the present study depicted that the Kirtikar R and Basu M (1991). Indian Medicinal Plants.
alcoholic extracts of Echinops echinatus, Fagonia cretica, In: Blatter E, JF Caius, KS Bhaskar (Eds). Periodical
Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Panicum turgidum and Alhagi Experts Book Agency D-42, vivek vihar, Delhi, India,
maurorum possess dose dependent antipyretic activity. PP.56-60.
The results affirmed the claim by the herbal practitioners Kluger M (1991). Fever: Role of pyrogens and cryogens.
of the area, which use this plant to cure fever in humans. Physiol. Rev., 71: 93-127.
However, further studies are required to explore the exact Lakshman K, Shivaprasad H, Jaiprakash B and Mohan S
mechanism of action of Plants extracts. (2006). Anti inflammatory and Antipyretic activities of
Hemidesmus indicus root extract. Afri. J. of Trad.
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