Phytochemical screening and in vivo antipyretic activity of the aqueous extracts of three Moroccan medicinal plants

Objective : In this study, the antipyretic effect of different extracts obtained from Matricaria chamomilla L. (MC), Ormenis mixta L. (OM) and Pistacia atlantica DESF. (PA) was investigated experimentally in rats. Methods : Antipyretic activity of aqueous extracts was evaluated by yeast induced pyrexia method. The antipyretic effect was retained in all extracts tested and was comparable to that of paracetamol used as the standard drug negative control group (distilled water). The extracts were also phytochemically screened for alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, quinones and anthraquinones. Results : Treatment with aqueous extracts at dose of 400 mg/kg showed a significant (p≤0.05) reaction of pyrexia in rodents. The results suggest that this Moroccan medicinal plants possesses potent antipyretic activity. Phytochemical screening of the plants showed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids and quinons which may responsible for this activity. However, anthraquinones were absent in all plants and alkaloids from PA. Conclusions : This study might be the first formal report on antipyretic effects of these three plants in Morocco.