Antipyretic effects of the aqueous, ethyl acetate and hexane leaf extracts of Ficus exasperata (Moraceae) in mice

The leaves of the plant, Ficus exasperata Vahl. (Moraceae) are commonly used in the southern area of Nigeria and certain parts of Africa in reducing fever. This study was thus aimed at investigating this traditional use.The aqueous, ethyl acetate, and hexane extracts of the leaves of F. exasperata (AFE, EFE, and HFE, respectively) were evaluated for effects on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in mice.Rectal temperatures were recorded before and after inducing pyrexia as well as after administration of the respective extracts, paracetamol (PCM) and sodium chloride (NaCl) at intervals of half an hour for 3 h. All the plant extracts showed antipyretic property with reasonable onset and duration of action. Both hexane and aqueous extracts of F. exasperata were however observed to be more potent. Time-dependent antipyretic effect was also observed with the extracts. The extracts also displayed no significant effect on normal body temperature. Thus, the antipyretic activity of F. exasperata observed in this study may account for its traditional use.