Antipyretic Activity of Blumea lacera (Burm. f) D.C., a Folklore Medicine from Chhattisgarh India

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 dosedependent manner. CSFBME, at doses of 400 mg/kg caused lowering of the normal body temperature up to 3 h following administration, while in yeastinduced 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.