• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.252-259
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• 2008

The chloroform extract of Croton roxburghii (Family: Euphorbiaceae) was evaluated for its antipyretic effects in Brewer's yeast induced hyperthermia in rats. The anti-inflammatory effect of the Croton roxburghii was also evaluated by using carrageenan, dextran, histamine, serotonin induced rat paw oedema and cotton pellet induced granuloma (chronic) models in rats. The chloroform extract of Croton roxburghii (CECR) exhibited significant anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory effect at the dose 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Maximum inhibition (55.32%) was notedat the dose of 200 mg/kg after 3 h of drug treatment in carrageenan induced paw oedema, whereas the Indomethacin (standard drug) produced 61.33% of inhibition. The extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in dextran induced paw edema in a dose dependent manner. In the chronic model (cotton pellet induced granuloma) the CECR (200 mg/kg) and Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) showed decreased formation of granuloma tissue by 52.32% and 56.32% respectively. The extract also exhibited a significant antipyretic response in Brewer's yeast induced pyrexia in rats. Thus, the present study revealed that the CECR exhibited significant antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activity in the tested animal models.