Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Elsevier Scientific Publishers
33 ( I99 Ireland
1) 193-l
96
193
Ltd.
Short communication
Antipyretic activity of six indigenous medicinal plants of Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh, India S. Vedavathy and K.N. Rao Medicinal
Plant Research Laboratory.
Department
ofBotany.Sri (Accepted
Venkateswara
October
The Tirumala Hills area of India has a valuable heritage of herbal remedies and like most developing areas, its rural population still relies on the indigenous system of medicine to a great extent. Local practioners also claim that these remedies frequently have less side effects. The area has received only a little attention in this regard (Naidu, 1966; Hemadri, 1984, 1985; Nagaraju and Rao, 1990); however, biological studies of the medicinal value of the plants of this region have not been adequately carried out (Chopra et al., 1956, 1969; Kirtikar and Basu, 1973; Ghosh et al., 1981). In view of this fact, the present researchers have conducted a study to identify some antipyretic indigenous medicinal plants of this area.
Studies were conducted on inbred albino rats of either sex weighing 100-150 g fed on a commercial diet (Gold Mohur, Lipton India Ltd.) with water freely available. A saline fed group served as control for each experiment. The watery solution of the extract was administered orally in different doses (ranging from 250 mg to 600 mg/kg) of extract. Extract preparation
The plant materials were allowed to dry in shade and powdered. A 95% ethanolic extraction was made by maceration for 10 days (50 mg/ml) with agitation twice daily (Riebling and Walker, 1975). Each extract was filtered through muslin and the solvent evaporated using a water bath. The residue was then mixed with 15-20 ml of distilled water, shaken, allowed to stand for 30 min and filtered. This procedure was repeated twice to recover the maximum possible amount of the water-soluble principles. The filtrate was dried using a waterbath and the final yields ranged from 4.25% to 5.90% relative to dried starting material. All extracts were subjected to screening for antipyretic activity with the doses expressed in terms of extract weight.
Plant materials
Plants were collected for this study (Table 1) from the Tirumala Hills area of Andhra Pradesh, India. Identification was confirmed by the Department of Botany, Medicinal Plant Unit, Sri IO; S. Vedavathy.
Lecturer
Arts & Science College.
in Botany.
Tirupati
Sri
517 502. An-
dhra Pradesh, India.
0378-8741603.50
23. 1990)
Animals
Materials and Methods
Correspondence
Tirupati 517 502. Andhra Pradesh (India)
Venkateswara University and also by reference to herbarium specimens in our laboratories.
Introduction
Venkateswara
University,
0
1991 Elsevier Scientific
Published and Printed in Ireland
Publishers
Ireland
Ltd.
194
TABLE
I
IDENTIFICATION Species, common
OF
PLANTS
names(s)
Part used
Folk medicinal
Whole
Treat debility.
USC
and family Anclropuphis (Burm.f.)
puniculuto
plant
dysentery.
dyspepsia.
Leaves and roots arc stomachic and used as fcbrifugc
Wall. ex Nees
and tonic. Mostly given for treating
“Nelavemu”
lcvcrs.
Acanthaceae A rislolcwhitr inch “Godidha
L.
Treat
Root
Cussiu uuriculutu
L.
‘Tangedu”
snakehitc.
To incrcasc the contractions
of uterus
during labour.
gadapa”
Given
for intcrmittcnt
Given
in syphilis. gonorrhoca.
fcvcr and worms.
flowers
Poultice is applied to join hrokcn bones. Used in skin diseases. bronchitis and for fcvcr.
Rhizome
Stimulant.
Leaves and
Caesalpiniaceae C)XVU.Y rotuntlus L. “Tungamuthalu” “Tungamusti”.
“Mulla
anthclmintic.
cmmcnagogue.
stomachic.
Dccoction
of Soltm~rrrt ~r;,qafn L. cures recurring
Cyperaceae S
33 ( I99 Ireland
1) 193-l
96
193
Ltd.
Short communication
Antipyretic activity of six indigenous medicinal plants of Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh, India S. Vedavathy and K.N. Rao Medicinal
Plant Research Laboratory.
Department
ofBotany.Sri (Accepted
Venkateswara
October
The Tirumala Hills area of India has a valuable heritage of herbal remedies and like most developing areas, its rural population still relies on the indigenous system of medicine to a great extent. Local practioners also claim that these remedies frequently have less side effects. The area has received only a little attention in this regard (Naidu, 1966; Hemadri, 1984, 1985; Nagaraju and Rao, 1990); however, biological studies of the medicinal value of the plants of this region have not been adequately carried out (Chopra et al., 1956, 1969; Kirtikar and Basu, 1973; Ghosh et al., 1981). In view of this fact, the present researchers have conducted a study to identify some antipyretic indigenous medicinal plants of this area.
Studies were conducted on inbred albino rats of either sex weighing 100-150 g fed on a commercial diet (Gold Mohur, Lipton India Ltd.) with water freely available. A saline fed group served as control for each experiment. The watery solution of the extract was administered orally in different doses (ranging from 250 mg to 600 mg/kg) of extract. Extract preparation
The plant materials were allowed to dry in shade and powdered. A 95% ethanolic extraction was made by maceration for 10 days (50 mg/ml) with agitation twice daily (Riebling and Walker, 1975). Each extract was filtered through muslin and the solvent evaporated using a water bath. The residue was then mixed with 15-20 ml of distilled water, shaken, allowed to stand for 30 min and filtered. This procedure was repeated twice to recover the maximum possible amount of the water-soluble principles. The filtrate was dried using a waterbath and the final yields ranged from 4.25% to 5.90% relative to dried starting material. All extracts were subjected to screening for antipyretic activity with the doses expressed in terms of extract weight.
Plant materials
Plants were collected for this study (Table 1) from the Tirumala Hills area of Andhra Pradesh, India. Identification was confirmed by the Department of Botany, Medicinal Plant Unit, Sri IO; S. Vedavathy.
Lecturer
Arts & Science College.
in Botany.
Tirupati
Sri
517 502. An-
dhra Pradesh, India.
0378-8741603.50
23. 1990)
Animals
Materials and Methods
Correspondence
Tirupati 517 502. Andhra Pradesh (India)
Venkateswara University and also by reference to herbarium specimens in our laboratories.
Introduction
Venkateswara
University,
0
1991 Elsevier Scientific
Published and Printed in Ireland
Publishers
Ireland
Ltd.
194
TABLE
I
IDENTIFICATION Species, common
OF
PLANTS
names(s)
Part used
Folk medicinal
Whole
Treat debility.
USC
and family Anclropuphis (Burm.f.)
puniculuto
plant
dysentery.
dyspepsia.
Leaves and roots arc stomachic and used as fcbrifugc
Wall. ex Nees
and tonic. Mostly given for treating
“Nelavemu”
lcvcrs.
Acanthaceae A rislolcwhitr inch “Godidha
L.
Treat
Root
Cussiu uuriculutu
L.
‘Tangedu”
snakehitc.
To incrcasc the contractions
of uterus
during labour.
gadapa”
Given
for intcrmittcnt
Given
in syphilis. gonorrhoca.
fcvcr and worms.
flowers
Poultice is applied to join hrokcn bones. Used in skin diseases. bronchitis and for fcvcr.
Rhizome
Stimulant.
Leaves and
Caesalpiniaceae C)XVU.Y rotuntlus L. “Tungamuthalu” “Tungamusti”.
“Mulla
anthclmintic.
cmmcnagogue.
stomachic.
Dccoction
of Soltm~rrrt ~r;,qafn L. cures recurring
Cyperaceae S
