Evaluation of Anti-Pyretic Potential of Indigofera tinctoria using Brewer's Yeast induced Pyrexia in Albino Rats

Background: Many natural drugs have been found to be having antipyretic potential. Indigofera tinctoria traditionally used to treat fever, diabetes, inflammation etc. Aim: The present study investigates the antipyretic activity of the leaf extracts of Indigofera tinctoria on brewer’s yeast induced fever in experimental rats. Methods: 30 albino rats weighing 150-180g were used for study. Brewer’s-yeast-induced pyrexia was used to investigate the antipyretic effects. 10ml/Kg (subcutaneous) of 0.5 (w/v) suspension of brewer’s yeast in Carboxy methylcellulose was injected to induce fever in all the experimental animals. After 18hrs, the rectal temperature was taken and the animals were administered Indigofera tinctoria (100mg/kg, 200mg/kg, and 400mg/kg) and paracetamol (standard group, 30mg/kg) orally. Result: The body temperature of the rats was measured rectally over a period of 3hours. I. tinctoria (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) significantly reduced yeast induced pyrexia when compared with the standard drug. Thus, this experiment shows that the antipyretic effect of I. tinctoria is dose dependent and the effect is as a result of the phyto-constituents of the extract. Conclusion: These data therefore suggest that extract of I. tinctoria possesses significant antipyretic activity and it mechanism could be by inhibition of release inflammatory mediators and prostaglandins.