B. Kavitha, N. Yasodamma, E. Sreenivasulu Reddy

Abstract

Pterolobium hexapetalum (Caesalpiniaceae) is one of the important herbal medicines against chest pain, fever, cough, tooth ache, dog bite, diarrhoea, ulcer, jaundice, skin disorders, constipation, piles and venereal diseases. Also possess high quantities of phytoconstituents in leaf, stem bark, flower and fruit extracts like flavonoides, alkaloids, phenols, glycosides, saponins steroids, tannins and quinines. P. hexapetalum extracts also proved as effective antimicrobial, antiulcerous, antidiarrhoel and antioxidant herbal drug through in – vitro and in – vivo studies. P. hexapetalum stem bark extracts have been evaluated for their antipyretic activity against yeast – induced pyrexia in rats. The methanol as well as water extracts of the stem bark showed potential antipyretic activity. It was observed that methanol extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight significantly elevated body temperature of rabbit showed maximum antipyretic activity than water extract. The effect produced was comparable with the standard antipyretic drug paracetamol. Hence present investigation reveals the antipyretic activities of the methanolic and water extracts of the stem bark extracts of P. hexapetalum.