A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE ANTIPYRETIC PROPERTY OF THE TANNIN OF SANDORICUM KOETJAPE (SANTOL BARK) AND PARACETAMOL

ABSTRACT: The study compared the antipyretic effect of the tannin extract from Sandoricum koetjape (santol) bark and Paracetamol on rabbits. Specifically, the effective dose of the tannin component was detrmined and the degree of relativity including the potency of the antipyretic effect of tannin extract was compared to that of Paracetamol. Dried santol bark which was cut into small pieces were macerated in 80% ethanol and left for 24 hours. The resulting extract was subjected to a water bath and the resulting syrupy solution was mixed with 0.9% NSS. Twenty (20) rabbits were separated into four (4) groups with five (5) members each. All the rabbits were injected subcutaneously with Brewer`s yeast to induce fever. The first three (3) groups, Groups A to C, were injected intravenously with tannin extract measuring 2.5 ml, 5 ml, and 10 ml respectively. The remaining group, Group D, were injected intravenously with 2 ml Paracetamol. The results showed that Paracetamol has a more potent antipyretic effect than that of the tannin extract from the Santol bark. However, tannin extract from the Santol bark was still effective in lowering the temperatures of the rabbit but was found out to be dose dependent.

Department of Pharmacology