Antipyretic activity of Alstonia macrophylla Wall ex A. DC: an ethnomedicine of Andaman Islands.

OBJECTIVE

Alstonia macrophylla Wall ex A. DC. Leaf, used in different ailments by the Onge tribes of Little Andaman Island, India, was investigated for its antipyretic potential.

METHODS

The methanol extract and its fractions were tested on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in Wistar Albino rats.

RESULTS

The leaf extract at oral doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg, and the n-butanol fractions of the extract at 50 mg/kg showed significant reduction in normal body temperature and yeast-provoked elevated temperature in a dose-dependent manner comparable to that of standard antipyretic drug paracetamol. The antipyretic effect was started at 1 h and extended for at least 5 h after the drug administration.

CONCLUSIONS

The antipyretic effect was more pronounced when the fraction A and B was administered together, indicating that both the fractions may contain antipyretic compounds which produce an additive effect in combination. Phytochemically these fractions contain beta-sitosterol and ursolic acid.