Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Pyretic Activity of the Leaf, Root and Saponin Fraction from Vernonia amygdalina

Studies have shown that Vernonia amygdalina possess saponin as one of the bitter phyto-constituents. This study was aimed at determining the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity of the aqueous extract of the leaf, root and saponin fraction from the herb. Standard procedures using ear thickness measurement in xylene induced inflammation and anal temperature readings in Saccharomyces cerevisiae induced pyrexia in rats were followed. Data indicated significant (p≤0.05) inhibitory activity for all the dose levels of the extracts in the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic evaluations. Saponin fraction at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg with 10.5 and 19.6% inhibition respectively, showed significant (p≤0.05) anti-inflammatory activity. The antipyretic evaluation of the saponin fraction showed no anal temperature reduction at 50 mg/kg dose level. Finding suggests the antipyretic and non-steroid like anti-inflammatory activity of the saponin fraction. This may partly explain the observed activity of the herbal extract which has found use traditionally as remedy for similar ailments.