Antipyretic effects of starfruit stem bark infusion (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) in rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract

Starfruit stem bark is a traditional medicine that is used by the community to treat fever by drinking the decoction. One of the chemical constituents in the starfruit stem bark is flavonoids. Previous studies showed that antipyretic effects were produced by flavonoids in plants. This study aimed to determine the antipyretic effect of starfruit stem bark infusion in rats. This was an experimental research using the Pretest-Posttest with Control Group design which was conducted on 15 test animals. The rats divided into 3 groups, each group consisting of 5 male rats; group I was given distilled water (negative control group), group II was given Paracetamol suspension (positive control group) and group III was given Starfruit stem bark infusion 10% (treatment group). Before being treated, the rats were made fever by injecting peptone 20% intraperitoneally with the requirement of a temperature increase of 1.5oC from the initial temperature. Data collected from the measurements of rat body temperature before treatment and every 1 hour for 4 hours of observation time after treatment. The results were analyzed descriptively presented in graphical form and analyzed statistically using the one-way ANOVA test. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the Starfruit stem bark infusion had an antipyretic effect although it was not statistically significant (p>0.05).