EVALUATION OF ANTI PYRETIC POTENTIAL OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LAGENARIA SICERARIA SEED AGAINST BREWER’S YEAST INDUCED PYREXIA IN RABBIT.

Monica Chopra, K. Kavitha*, Sravan Kumar and Ananya Goswami

ABSTRACT

Fever, also known as pyrexia and febrile response, is defined as having a temperature above the normal range due to an increase in the body's temperature set-point. There is not a single agreed-upon upper limit for normal temperature with sources using values between 37.5 and 38.3 °C (99.5 and 100.9 °F). The increase in set-point triggers increased muscle contraction and causes a feeling of cold. This results in greater heat production and efforts to conserve heat. When the set-point temperature returns to normal, a person feels hot, becomes flushed, and may begin to sweat. Rarely a fever may trigger a febrile seizure. This is more common in young children. Fevers do not typically go higher than 41 to 42 °C (105.8 to 107.6 °F). Hyperpyrexia is a fever with an extreme elevation of body temperature greater than or equal to 41.5 °C (106.7 °F). Such a high temperature is considered a medical emergency as it may indicate a serious underlying condition or lead to significant side effects. The most common cause is an intracranial haemorrhage. Antipyretics from anti- 'against' and pyretic 'feverish') are substances that reduce fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override a prostaglandin-induced increase in temperature. The body then works to lower the temperature, which results in a reduction in fever. The main aim and objective of my present research work was the phytochemical screening and evaluation of anti pyretic activity of Methanolic extract of Lagenaria siceraria seed against Brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia in Rabbit. The effect of Methanolic extract of Seeds of Lagenaria siceraria significantly (P<0.01) reversed yeast induced pyrexia in rats throughout the observation period up to 6 h. From the above experimental data it was displayed that MELS shows significant reduction of elevated temperature as compared to control group, almost identical to that of aspirin treated group, hence the results indicateed that the test extract possessed significant antipyretic potential.

Keywords: Pyrexia, Febrile response, Hyperpyrexia, Intracranial haemorrhage, Antipyretics etc.