Abstract

ANTIPYRETIC ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CROSSOPTERYX FEBRIFUGA STEM BARKS IN WISTAR RATS

Elisee Kporou Kouassi*, Thierry Ayoman Djadji, Sarah Kouame Amenan, Jean David N'guessan and Gisele Kouakou-Siransy

ABSTRACT

Crossopteryx febrifuga is used in Ivorian traditional medicine by populations of Pakouabo village to treat fever. The present study was designed to evaluate the antipyretic activity of an aqueous extract of the stem barks of Crossopteryx febrifuga in wistar rats. The antipyretic activity of Crossopteryx febrifuga was evaluated by brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia in rats in comparison to paracetamol (100 mg/kg body weight). The extract of this plant did not show an hypothermic effect. A very marked antipyretic activity with a percent inhibition of pyrexia of more than 50% was obtained with the extract of Crossopteryx febrifuga at the concentration of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg. The antipyretic activity of this aqueous extract at a dose of 50 mg/kg was identical to that of paracetamol (100 mg/kg). Phytochemical characterization revealed the presence of sterols, polyterpens, polyphenols, flavonoids, saponosides and catechin tannins. These findings suggest the aqueous extract from stem barks of Crossopteryx febrifuga presents significant antipyretic activity on hyperthermia in rats.

Keywords: Extract, brewer's yeast, hyperthermia, hypothermic.