ANALGESIC AND ANTIPYRETIC ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA LEAVES

To study the analgesic and antipyretic activities of ethanolic extract of Bambusa arundinacea leaves (EEBA) in rats by using models tail immersion test, hot plate test and brewer’s yeast pyrexia model. Methods: The dried powdered leaves were extracted with ethanol and the resultant extract was subjected for phytochemical investigation to identify different phytoconstituents. Analgesic activity of the ethanolic extract of B. arundinacea leaves at a dose of 100mg/kg b.w., p.o. and 200mg/kg b.w., p.o. were evaluated against the standard drug Diclofenac sodium at a dose of 10mg/kg b.w., i.p. by tail immersion test and hot plate test. Antipyretic activity of EEBA (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) was assessed by using brewer’s yeast pyrexia model in rats against the standard drug Paracetamol (150 mg/kg, p.o.). Results: Preliminary phytochemical investigations showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids, tannins and phenolic compounds as major secondary metabolites. The results showed that in tail immersion and hot plate test, EEBA has shown significant (P < 0.05) increase in the latency period at both high and low doses indicating analgesic activity. EEBA (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) also significantly (P < 0.0001) reduced brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia in rats. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that the ethanolic extract of Bambusa arundinaceae leaves exhibited significant analgesic and antipyretic activities at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg in dose dependent manner.