EVALUATION OF ANTIPYRETIC AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF PARUSAKA (GREWIA ASIATICA LINN.): AN INDIGENOUS INDIAN PLANT

In the modern medical system, pyrexia is not only considered as a disease, but Jwara or pyrexia has been depicted as a cardinal disease from the period of Brihatrayee (2000B.C – 7th Century A.D.) due to its severeity and worsening prognosis. The vivic classification of the disease, Jwara has been acertained in different traditional Ayurvedic texts and the treatment are being elaborately described in these texts, but most are the compond formulation pertaining to endangered species. Considering this, Parusaka (Grewia asiatica Linn.) has been selected as a drug having the Jwaraghna (antipyretic) action and Vedananasaka (analgesic). The basis for the pharmacological action is based on panachabhautika composition. This study was carried out to evaluate its analgesic and antipyretic activities in experimental animal model. The aqueous extract of Parusaka was administered in different doses to swiss albino mice / rats and compared for analgesic – antipyretic activity by administering aspirin. The extract (doses of 200-300mg / kg body weight) showed good analgesic effect due to its inhibitory effects on pain induced by acetic acid in writhing test (Chemical stimulation) and tail immersion test (Thermal stimulation). The trial drug (300mg /kg body weight) also produced significant increase in the hot plate reaction time (when compared to aspirin 400mg/kg body weight in mice) indicating its analgesic effects. The extract containing 400mg /kg body weight dose had significant effect than aspirin (100mg / kg body weight) on reducing pyrexia, induced by administering lipopolysaccharide extract from E. Coli. This study therefore support the use of Parusaka as indigenous analgesic and antipyretic agent in India and further investigations is required to elucidate its pharmacodynamic action.