EVALUATION OF ANTI-PYRETIC AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF MARSILEA MINUTA LINN.

Abstract

Pyrexia and analgesia are associated with several pathological conditions. Synthetic drugs available for the treatment of these conditions cause multiple unwanted effects. The main objective of the present work is to find out the good pharmacological activities in herbal source. The current study was aimed to investigate the antipyretic and analgesic properties of ethanolic leaf extract of Marsilea minuta Linn (EEMM) in rats. EEMM was employed to assess antipyretic activity in Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia in rats and the analgesic activity was studied using tail-immersion method and Eddy’s hot-plate device maintained at 55°C in rats. Dried powder plant materials were subjected to successive solvent extraction taking Petroleum ether, Benzene, Chloroform, Ethanol and triple distilled water. EEMM at a dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg p.o were subjected to antipyretic and analgesic activity. The EEMM had significant dose dependent antipyretic and analgesic properties at 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o. The results obtained revealed significant (p < 0.05) antipyretic activity at 400 mg/kg dose tested as compared with standard. Analgesic activity was evaluated using tail-immersion method and Eddy’s hot plate method. The analgesic activity was observed maximum at 400 mg/kg (significance p < 0.001). Paracetamol (150 mg/kg p.o) and Diclofenac sodium (9 mg/kg i.p) was taken as standard drug. The results of the present study demonstrate that EEMM possess significant antipyretic and analgesic activity. This study provides evidences for the antipyretic and analgesic activity of Marsilea minuta Linn which could partly contribute to its ethno medical use.