Pharmacological Evaluation of Antipyretic and Antioxidant Activities of 80% Methanol Root Extract and Derived Solvent Fraction of Echinops kebericho M. (Asteraceae) in Mice Model

BACKGROUND: Toxicity and untoward effects are very ostensible in most standard drugs including antipyretic agents. Searching for conceivable antipyretic drugs with minimal toxicities and side effects from traditional plants is a growing concern to date. Echinops kebericho M. (Asteraceae) is one of the most prominent traditional medicinal plants, which is frequently testified for its traditionally claimed uses of treating fever and different infectious and noninfectious disorders by traditional healers in Ethiopian folk medicine. However, this plant has not been scientifically assessed for its traditionally claimed uses. This study therefore is aimed at investigating the antipyretic and antioxidant activities of 80% methanol root extract and the derived solvent fraction of Echinops kebericho M. in mouse models. METHODS: Successive solvent maceration with increased polarity was used as the method of extractions, and chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water were used as solvents. After extraction, the crude extract and its derived solvent fractions were assessed for their antipyretic activities using yeast-induced pyrexia while, the antioxidant activities were measured in vitro using the diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay method. Both the extract and solvent fractions were evaluated at the doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg for its antipyretic activities, and the antioxidant activity was evaluated at the doses of 50, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/kg. The positive control group was treated with standard drug (ASA 100 mg/kg), while normal saline-receiving groups were assigned as negative control. RESULT: E. kebericho crude extract along with its derived solvent fractions showed statistically significant (p < 0.05, 0.01, and 0.001) temperature reduction activities. The maximum percentage of temperature reduction was observed by the highest dose (400 mg/kg) of the crude extract. The aqueous fraction also showed significantly (p < 0.05 and 0.01) higher temperature reduction than those of ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions. The free radical scavenging activities of the crude extract were also significantly high at the maximum dose, and the aqueous fraction showed the significantly highest antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION: In general, the data obtained from the present study clarified that the extract possessed significant antipyretic and antioxidant activities, upholding the traditionally claimed use of the plant.