Ethno-Medicinal Survey of Plants Used in Fever and Biological Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Fifty one plant species belonging to 35 families were documented for the traditional treatment of fever. The widely used species are Centellaasiatica (50%), Ocimumsantum (22.5%), Cissampelospareira (19.5%), Rubusellipticus (10%), and Allium hypsistum (14%). Leaves were used in majority of cases followed by roots in the form of decoction, juice, infusion with or without solvents such as water. Leave extract of R. ellipticus showed potent antioxidant activity towards 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity with IC50 value 2.98 µg/ml compared with standard Ascorbic acid (4.77 µg/ ml). The antibacterial activity of the leave of R. ellipticus showed comparable zone of inhibition with that of standard drugs at a concentration of 1 mg/ml.

Keywords: Fever, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial activity, Rubusellipticus, Centellaasiatica