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

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: 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.