Antipyretic activity of Blumea lacera (Burm. f) D.C., A folklore medicine from Chhattisgarh India

Amit Roy

Columbia Institute of Pharmacy, Tekari, Raipur (C.G.), India

ABSTRACT:

Blumea lacera (Burm. f) D.C. (Compositae) has been used for many diseases in folk medicine. In Chhattisgarh it is known as Kukurmutta, Kukronda, or Kukkurchedi. Natives of Chhattisgarh use this plant in treatment of joint pains, fever, disease of respiratory organs, treatment of migraine, in treatment of cancerous wound etc. Chloroform soluble fraction of B. lacera methanolic extract (CSFBME) was investigated for its, potential on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in albino rats. The CSFBME, at doses of 200, and 400 mg/kg BW p.o., showed significant reduction in normal body temperature and yeast-provoked elevated temperature in a dose-dependent manner. CSFBME, at doses of 400 mg/kg caused lowering of the normal body temperature up to 3 h following administration, while in yeast-induced pyrexia the rectal temperature of 39.8°C, decreased to 38.4°C within 1 hour of treatment and reduced till 4 hours showing a sizeable decrease of 2.3°C. CSFBME illustrated lowering of body temperature in both of these models even at dose of 200mg/kg body weight. The anti-pyretic effect of CSFBME was comparable to that of paracetamol (150 mg/kg p.o.,), a standard anti-pyretic agent.

KEYWORDS: Antipyretic, B. lacera, Chhattisgarh, Folk medicine.

INTRODUCTION:

Blumea lacera (Burm. f) D.C. is one of the common weeds of India occurring throughout the plains, while it is a common roadside weed in Ceylon and Malaya¹. Ayurveda describe Blumea as hot, pungent bitter and antipyretic. According to Bhaavaprakaasha, the herb cures fever, bronchial affections, blood, thirst and burning sensations. The root kept in the mouth is said to cure disease of the mouth. B.lacera is also a valuable Homoeopathic drug. In homoeopathic medicine it is used in case of enuresis, neuralgia, headache and cold borne cough^2-6.

Blumea lacera is locally known in Chhattisgarh as Kukurmutta, Kukronda, or Kukkurchedi and in many parts of India, it is known as Janglimuli. Natives of Chhattisgarh use this valuable weed for treating many of their health problems, including bleeding piles, joint pains, fever, disease of respiratory organs, migraine, carbuncle and in treatment of cancerous wound among others^6-7. Phytochemical investigation of the plant has shown the presence of small amounts of acetylinic compounds, a thiophene derivative, a diester, campesterol, triterpenoid, prenylated phenol glycosides, monoterpene glycoside and flavonoids^{2, 8-10}. This plant has been reported to show in vitro anti leukemic activity¹¹, depressant effect on central nervous system¹² along with insecticidal activities^13-14. Fresh juice of Blumea has been used in a marketed formulation that is used in treatment of piles¹⁵.

The present study is a scientific approach to reestablish the traditional uses of the plant Blumea lacera and evaluate its antipyretic activities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Plant material

Whole plant of Blumea lacera was collected in the first week of March 2005 from the fields around the campus of Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (Agriculture University), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), India. The species were identified by the local people during the time of collection and later on further authentication was made by Prof. P. Jayaraman, Director Plant Anatomy Research Centre; Chennai- India. The specimen was vouchered, and deposited at Institute of Pharmacy, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla Vishvdyalaya, Raipur; Chhattisgarh, India. Plant was shade dried, reduced to coarse powder and stored in airtight container till further use.

Preparation of the extract

One kilogram of powdered drug was packed in soxhlet apparatus and extracted with petroleum ether (60-80âC) to defat the drug. Defatted powdered drug was then extracted with ethanol (95%). The alcoholic extract thus obtained was further fractioned with chloroform into chloroform soluble and insoluble fractions. The solvents were removed by distillation and the last traces of solvent being removed under reduced pressure. The extracts and fractions were weighed and thereafter, were stored in refrigerator for further experimental work.

Animals

In-bread Wistar Albino rats (150 – 180 grams) of either sex were selected for the study. Six rats were taken for each group. The rats were used after an acclimatization period of 7 days to the laboratory environment. They were provided with food and water adlibitum. All animal experiments were carried out at Periyar College of Pharmaceutical Sciences for Girls, Trichy, Tamilnadu- India, according to the guidelines and approval of the Animal Ethics Committee (Registration Number 265/CPCSEA)

Acute toxicity study

Limit test at 2000 mg/kg body weight was selected to perform acute toxicity of chloroform soluble fraction of B. lacera ethanolic extract on laboratory animals, by method as recommended in the up and down procedure (UDP) of toxicity study of the guidelines of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)¹⁶. Following the period of fasting, the animals were weighed. The fasted body weight of each animal was determined and the dose was calculated according to the body weight of animals considering that each one would receive a 2000 mg/kg body weight limit dose. For the UDP study the animals were administered by oral rout (intragastric cannula 16 G) with a unique dose of the studied extracts and it was decided to dose the five animals the same day¹⁷. Animals were observed individually at least once during the first 30 minutes after dosing, periodically during the first 24 hours (with special attention given during the first 4 hours), and daily thereafter, for a total of 14 days.

Antipyretic activity

Antipyretic potential of chloroform soluble fraction was accessed by determining its effect on normal body temperatures as well as yeast induced pyrexia in rats by methods as described earlier^18-19.

In brief, for the study on normal body temperature rats of either sex were divided into groups, comprising six in each group. The body temperature of each rat was measured rectally at predetermined intervals before and for 5 hour after administration of either saline 5ml/ kg (control) or plant extract at doses of 200 and 400-mg/kg body weight orally. While for the study on yeast-induced pyrexia rats were divided into five groups of six rats each. Normal body temperature of each rat was measured rectally at predetermined intervals. The rats were acclimatized to remain quiet in a restraint cage. A thermister probe was inserted 3–4 cm deep into the rectum and fastened to the tail by adhesive tape. The temperature was measured on a thermometer. After measuring the basal rectal temperature, animals were given a subcutaneous injection of 10-ml/kg body weight of 15% (w/v) yeast suspended in 0.5% (w/v) methylcellulose solution. Rats were then returned to their housing cages. After 19 h of yeast injection, the animals were again restrained in individual cages for the recording of their rectal temperatures as described previously. Nineteen hour after yeast injection the rats were restrained for recording the rectal temperatures, thereafter animals were treated as described above. Paracetamol 150 mg/kg was used as standard. The temperatures were recorded at intervals of 1 hour, up to another 4 hours after treatment (up to 23^rd hour of yeast injection).

Statistical analysis

All the data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS 14.0 for Windows. The statistical analysis was performed by using one-way analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnet’s test for individual comparison of groups with control. p-values <0.05 were considered as significant. The values are represented as the mean ± SEM for six rats.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Acute toxicity study

In LD₅₀ studies, it was found that the animals were safe up to a maximum dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight. There were no changes in normal behavior pattern and no signs and symptoms of toxicity and mortality were observed. The pharmacological evaluations were carried out at doses of 200 and 400-mg/kg body weights.

Antipyretic activity

The result showed that the plant extract at doses of 400 mg/kg caused lowering of the normal body temperature up to 3 h following extract administration. The normal mean temperature of 37.2°C at 0 h was reduced to 36.7°C (Table 1). The effect of extract on yeast-induced pyrexia is presented in Table 2.

Table 1: Study of chloroform soluble fraction of B. lacera ethanolic extract on normal body temperature

Treatment	Average temperature after treatment with extract (°C)
Treatment	0 h	1 h	2 h	3 h	4 h	5 h
Control (Saline 5ml/ kg)	37.7 ± 0.2	37.8 ± 0.2	37.6 ± 0.2	37.6 ± 0.2	37.7 ± 0.3	37.7 ± 0.3
Chloroform soluble fraction 200 mg/kg	37.2 ± 0.3	36.9 ± 0.2	36.7± 0.2	36.6 ± 0.3	36.7 ± 0.2	36.9 ± 0.2
Chloroform soluble fraction 400 mg/kg	37.5 ± 0.2	36.7 ± 0.1	36.5 ± 0.2	36.4 ± 0.2	36.7 ± 0.3	36.7 ± 0.3

Data analyzed by one way ANOVA; values are mean ± S.M.E., statistically significant at p < 0.05; n = 6.

Table 2: Effect of chloroform soluble fraction of B. lacera ethanolic extract on brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia

Treatment	Normal Temp (°C) 0 h	Temp. (°C) 19hrs after yeast induced pyrexia	Average temperature after treatment (°C)
Treatment	Normal Temp (°C) 0 h	Temp. (°C) 19hrs after yeast induced pyrexia	20 h	21 h	22 h	23 h
Control (Saline 5ml/ kg)	37.5 ± 0.1	39.1 ± 0.2	39.1 ± 0.2	39.0 ± 0.2	38.9 ± 0.2	38.9 ± 0.3
Chloroform soluble fraction 200 mg/kg	37.2 ± 0.2	39.9 ± 0.3	39.0 ± 0.5	38.4 ± 0.4	38.0 ± 0.4	37.7 ± 0.7
Chloroform soluble fraction 400 mg/kg	37.8 ± 0.1	39.8 ± 0.2	38.4 ± 0.7	38.1 ± 0.2	37.7 ± 0.4	37.5 ± 0.5
Paracetamol 150 mg/kg	37.2 ± 0.2	39.7 ± 0.2	38.0 ± 0.1	37.5 ± 0.1	37.1 ± 0.1	36.8 ± 0.1

Data analyzed by one way ANOVA; values are mean ± S.M.E., statistically significant at p < 0.05; n = 6.

The rectal temperature of 37.8°C at 0h was markedly elevated to 39.8°C, 19h after the subcutaneous injection of yeast suspension, decreased to 38.4°C within 1 hour of extract (400mg/kg) treatment and reduced till 4 hours after treatment showing a sizeable decrease of 2.3°C. Chloroform soluble fraction showed lowering of body temperature in both of these models even at dose of 200mg/kg body weight.

CONCLUSION:

Based on the results of the present study it can be concluded that the Chloroform soluble fraction of B. lacera methanolic extract has potential dose-dependent antipyretic activity. It possesses a significant antipyretic effect in yeast-provoked elevation of body temperature in rats, and its effect is comparable to that of paracetamol (standard drug). Furthermore, it also significantly reduced the normal body temperature. Hence our present study gives a solid scientific approach to the traditional uses of the plant B. lacera.

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