EVALUATION OF ANTIPYRETIC POTENTIAL OF LAGHU MALINI VASANTA RASA – A ZINC-CONTAINING HERBOMETALLIC PREPARATION IN YEAST-INDUCED PYREXIA MODEL IN RATS

*Dr. Manisha B. Walunj, Dr. Ankush H. Gunjal

ABSTRACT

Background Laghu Malini Vasanta Rasa (LMVR) is a classical herbometallic formulation widely indicated in Jwara (fever) in Ayurvedic texts. The formulation mainly comprises Yashada Bhasma (incinerated zinc) and Maricha (Piper nigrum Linn.) prepared with cow butter and lemon juice. Objective: To evaluate the antipyretic activity of Laghu Malini Vasanta Rasa in yeast-induced pyrexia in Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out after obtaining approval from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC/12/2012/10). Pyrexia was induced by subcutaneous injection of 12.5% dried Brewer’s yeast suspension (1 mL/100 g). Animals were divided into two groups (n = 6 each) Group I (Control) received vehicle, and Group II received LMVR (22.5 mg/kg, p.o.). Rectal temperature was recorded at baseline and at 3, 6, and 9 hours after drug administration. Data were expressed as Mean ± SEM and analyzed using Student’s t-test, considering p 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: LMVR-treated rats showed a mild decrease in rectal temperature at 3 and 6 hours compared to the control group, though statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). At 9 hours, the formulation did not produce a temperature-lowering effect. Conclusion: Laghu Malini Vasanta Rasa demonstrated mild, non-significant antipyretic potential in yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. Its traditional use in Jwara may be attributed more to its Brimhana (anabolic) and Rasayana (rejuvenative) properties rather than to acute antipyretic action.

Keywords: Laghu Malini Vasanta Rasa, Antipyretic activity, Yeast-induced pyrexia, Jwara.