Comparative Evaluation of Analgesic, Antipyretic & Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Various Extracts of Dried Fruit of Illicium verum Hook.f (Star anise) in Rodents

Abstract

The current investigation was designed to evaluate the analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory effects of various extracts (methanol, ethanol, and aqueous) of dried fruit of Illicium verum hook.f, using 3 different doses (150, 250, and 350 mg/kg p.o) to verify the traditional uses of this spice. In the hot plate model of analgesia, ethanol extract showed a significant reduction in pain in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control group. The maximum effect was observed at 350 mg/kg dosage i.e., 16.90±0.17 s compared to the control group i.e., 5.03±0.05 s. The antipyretic activity was assessed in rats by Brewer’s yeast induction. The methanol and ethanol extracts produced a significant reduction in rectal temperature compared to the control group throughout the three doses. The maximum effect was observed at 350 mg/kg dosage of ethanol extract i.e., 37.1±0.8* compared to the control i.e., 39.1±0.3. In the paw edema model, methanol and ethanol extracts disclosed a significant reduction in paw edema at 350 mg/kg of dose. The maximum effect was observed at 350 mg/kg dosage of ethanol extract i.e., 0.25±0.23* compared to the control i.e., 0.97±0.4. In a behavioral study, locomotor activity (rearing) and exploratory activity (grooming) in mice was reduced significantly at higher doses (350 mg/kg p.o) involving the three extracts. However, scratching was increased non-significantly at all doses compared to the control group. This study concluded that various extracts of Illicium verum hook.f showed significant analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory effects at different doses in a dose-dependent manner with varying potencies. The ethanol extract was found to be more potent among all, followed by methanol and aqueous extracts, whereas maximum effects were observed at 350 mg/kg of dose.