ANTIPYRETIC ACTIVITY OF CRUDE AND AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF GULE GHAAFIS (GENTIANA OLIVIERI GRISEB) ON YEAST INDUCED PYREXIA IN ANIMAL MODEL

Ghaafis (Gentiana olivieri Griseb) has been recommended in Classical Unani literature as an important ingredient of many antipyretic formulations. Singularly, it is advocated in both crude and extract form. The present study was conducted to investigate the antipyretic activity of crude and aqueous extract of Gule Ghaafis on yeast induced pyrexia in animal model. The study was carried out by the method described by Vogel. Animals were divided into six groups of six animals each. Group I received distilled water, Group II was given subcutaneous injection of 15% suspension of Brewer’s yeast, Group III and IV were injected subcutaneous injection of 15% suspension of Brewer’s yeast, in the dose of 10ml/kg followed by powder of Gule Ghaafis in the dose of 600mg/kg and 1200mg/kg, respectively. Group V and VI were given subcutaneous injection of 15% suspension of Brewer’s, in the dose of 10ml/kg followed by aqueous extract of Gule Ghaafis in the dose of 162 mg/kg and 324mg/kg, respectively. The rectal temperature of the animals in different groups was recorded periodically for 24 hr with digital thermometer at the interval of 30min, from zero to 180 minutes. The temperature among various groups was calculated and compared by using Tukey-Kramer Multiple comparison test. The difference of mean was considered significant at p<0.05.The crude form of Gule haafis showed significant reduction in fever in higher dose and the extract of Gule Ghaafis in both lower and higher dose reduced fever, but the reduction in temperature was significant in higher dose. The study validated the use of Usarae Ghaafis (Extract of Gule Ghaafis) by Unani physicians in the treatment of fever. Therefore it may be concluded that extract of test drug should preferably be used particularly in the treatment of fever.