Evaluation of Pyrogenic Potential of Ethanolic Extract of Gnetum Africanum Leaves in Albino Rats

Abstract

Owing to the belief  held in this part of the world that the consumption of leaves of Gnetum africanum induces body heat, pyrogenic potential of extract of Gnetum africanum (afang) leaves in rats was evaluated to accept or reject this belief. Fresh leaves of Gnetum africanum were extracted by maceration. Potent and safe doses of the extract resolved from lethality studies were 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg, 750mg/kg, 1,000mg/kg, 1,250mg/kg, 1,500mg/kg, 1,750mg/kg and 2,000mg/kg.15 rats were used for the test. They were randomly divided into 3 groups of 5 animals each. Group I, the Control Group (CG) was treated orally with 10ml/kg of distilled water. Group 2, the Extract Group (EG) was administered orally with 1,000mg/kg (mid-dose) of extract. Group 3, the Yeast Group (YG) was treated intraperitoneally with 0.135mg/kg (pyrogenic dose) of baker’s yeast. Rectal temperatures (T_R) were recorded every hour up to the 4th hour. T_R values at 0 hour were the basal T_R. The T_R values (in ^oC) for the EG were 37.54 ± 0.13, 37.64 ± 0.13, 37.72 ± 0.16, 37.94 ± 0.08 and 38.04 ± 0.05 for 0,1,2,3 and 4 hour(s) respectively. For CG, the values were 37.64 ± 0.04, 37.6 ± 0.05, 37.62 ± 0.05, 37.64 ± 0.02 and 37.62 ± 0.03 for 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hour(s) respectively. Comparing the T_R of the EG with those of CG, there were significant increases (p<0.05 and p< 0.01) at 3rd and 4th hours orderly, while the 0, 1st and 2nd hours showed no significant differences. The YG T_R values which were 37.48 ± 0.12, 37.5 ± 0.08, 37.6 ± 0.08, 38.04 ± 0.11 and 37.76 ± 0.11 for 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hour(s) accordingly, showed a significant increase (p<0.05) at 3rd hour compared with the CG while the 0, 1st, 2nd and 4th hours showed no significant differences.

Keywords: Pyrogenic Potential, Ethanolic Extract, Gnetum africanum Leaves, Albino Rats