IN VIVO ANALGESIC AND ANTIPYRETIC ACTIVITIES OF N- BUTANOL AND WATER FRACTIONS OF OCIMUM SUAVE AQUEOUS LEAVES EXTRACT IN MICE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ocimum suave willd is one of the plants traditionally used for the treatment ofinflammation and related disorders in different parts of Ethiopia. The aim of the current study was toevaluate the analgesic and antipyretic activities of the solvent fractions (n-butanol and water) of O. suaveaqueous leaves extract.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acetic acid writhing and tail flick tests were used to evaluate theanalgesic activity, and yeast-induced fever in mice was used to evaluate the antipyretic activity of thesolvent fractions.RESULTS: Both solvent fractions exhibited inhibitory effect against acetic acid induced writhing at alltested dose levels in a dose dependent manner. The water fraction inhibited writhing by 47.69% at a doseof 200 mg/kg which was comparable to that by ASA, the standard drug. In the tail flick test, 200 mg/kgdose of both solvent fractions showed significant activity (P<0.05) after 0.5h, 1h and 3hrs of theiradministration. Both n- butanol and water fractions produced significant reduction in yeast inducedfever at all doses employed.CONCLUSION: From these findings, it can be concluded that the n-butanol and water fractions of O.suave aqueous leaves extract have potential analgesic and antipyretic activity in mice.