Abstract

INVESTIGATIONS ON THE ANTIPYRETIC AND ANTIEMETIC ACTIVITIES OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF LUPINUS ARBOREUS LEAVES.

Sylvester C. Ohadoma*

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the aqueous leaf extract of Lupinus arboreus for antipyretic and antiemetic activities. Materials and Methods: The antipyretic evaluation of the leaf extract of Lupinus arboreus was carried out using pyrogen-induced pyrexia in rats. Three groups (I-III) comprising five rats each were used. Groups II and III received 200 and 400 mg/kg orally of extract respectively, while Group I received normal saline (2 ml/kg). The antiemetic activity was determined using copper sulphate emesis technique. Five groups (I-V) comprising five (2 weeks old) chicks were employed. Groups III, IV and V received 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of extract orally respectively. Group I served as negative control and received 0.5 ml distilled water orally; while Group II served as positive control and received 50 mg/kg of chlorpromazine orally. Results: At oral doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, the extract exhibited significantly (p<0.05) antipyretic effect. The extract exhibited dose-dependent antiemetic effect. The positive control (chlorpromazine) showed the highest significantly (p<0.01) percentage inhibition (87.5 %) followed by extract at 200 mg/kg (84.3 %) and 50 mg/kg (67.1 %). Conclusion: The leaf extract of Lupinus arboreus significantly possess antipyretic and antiemetic effects.

Keywords: Lupinus arboreus, Chikadoma, antipyretic, antiemetic, chlorpromazine, leaf extract.