Original Articles: 2010 Vol: 2 Issue: 4
Antipyretic activity of roots of Cicer arietinum Linn
Abstract
Cicer arietinum Linn belonging to family Leguminosae is commonly used in the traditional system of medicine for the treatment of antibacterial, antifungal, antipyretic, antidiarrhoeal etc. In the present study, we investigated the antipyretic activities of the Hydroalcoholic extract, acetone fraction and methanol fraction of the roots of this plant. The antipyretic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract and its acetone and methanol fraction was studied based on the basis of their effect on Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. The extracts were screened for alkaloids, steroids, proteins, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, fats and oils etc. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, amino acid and saponin in the roots of cicer arietinum linn The hydro-alcoholic extract and methanol fraction produced significant antipyretic activity (p < 0.05), while acetone fraction did not. Hydroalcoholic extract and methanol fraction of Cicer arietinum roots have antipyretic activity