Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research

Solanum anomalum Thonn. ex Schumach, belonging to the family Solanaceae is a medicinal plant used among various cultures especially in Africa. The fruits and leaves have been in use nutritionally and ethnomedically for the treatment of diabetes, gastrointestinal ailments, malaria and various forms of fevers among others. This study aims to validate the use of the leaves of S. anomalum in the management of fevers. The leaf extract of S. anomalum at treatment doses of 70, 140 and 210 mg/kg p.o was investigated for antipyretic activity in rats using various experimental models; amphetamine, dinitrophenol and yeast-induced pyrexia. Acetyl salicylic acid (Aspirin) at the dose of 100 mg/kg p.o served as the standard drug, while distilled water was used as negative control in all the models. Data obtained were analysed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The leaf extract exhibited considerable activity against pyrexia induced by amphetamine, dinitrophenol and yeast. The significant(p<0.05–0.001) antipyretic activity of the extract was dose-dependent and highest from 3 to 5h post- administration of extract. The antipyretic effects of this plant may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant. The findings of this work confirm the ethnomedical use of this plant to treat febrile conditions.