title: Antipyretic and antimalarial activities of Solenostemon monostachyus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Solenostemon monostachyus P. Beauv (Lamiaceae) is an important herb used traditionally in the treatment of malaria, fever, and other diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Antiplasmodial and antipyretic activities of S. monostachyus aerial extract were evaluated to ascertain the folkloric claim of its antimalarial and antipyretic activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The extract (75-225 mg/kg) and fractions (chloroform and aqueous; 150 mg/kg) of S. monostachyus were investigated for suppressive, prophylactic, and curative antiplasmodial activities against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei infections in Swiss albino mice and for antipyretic activity against 2,4-dinitrophenol and yeast-induced pyrexia. Artesunate (5 mg/kg) and pyrimethamine (1.2 mg/kg) were used as positive controls for antiplasmodial models. Thin films made from tail blood of each mouse were used to assess the level of parasitaemia of the mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract/fractions progressively reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine sensitive P. berghei infection in prophylactic (28.48-71.72%), suppressive (12.52-72.47%), and curative (22.4-82.34%) models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (p < 0.01-0.001). They also improved significantly (p < 0.01-0.001) the mean survival time (MST) from 12.26 to 25.63 d relative to control (11.36 d). The activities of extract/fractions were incomparable with that of the standard drugs used (artesunate and pyrimethamine). The extract exerted prominent inhibition of pyrexia on dinitrophenol (87.33-90.11%, 5 h) and yeast (56.22-65.33, 5 h) induced pyrexia. Inhibition was significant (p < 0.05-0.001) from 3 to 5 h post-administration of extract and in a dose-dependent fashion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The plant may possess antiplasmodial and antipyretic effects which may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo , Uyo , Nigeria .
authors.forename: Jude
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okokon
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physiology , Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo , Uyo , Nigeria , and.
authors.forename: Koofreh A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biological Sciences , University of Abuja , Abuja , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bala A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Azare
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019686:Lamiaceae; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D058633:Antipyretics; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Malaria; medicinal plant; pyrexia