• Adedotun A Adefolalu, Bamidele V Owoyele, and Ayoade A Adesokan.
• Department of Biochemistry, P.M.B 146, Federal University Lafia, Nigeria.
• Afr Health Sci. 2023 Mar 1; 23 (1): 213217213-217.

BackgroundMorinda lucida leaves and fruits of Capsicum frutescens are used locally in the management of fever in Nigeria. No scientific credence has been lent to this claim.ObjectiveTo investigate the antipyretic effect and potency of aqueous extracts of Morinda lucida leaves and fruits of Capsicum frutescens in albino rats.MethodBrewer's yeast was used to induce pyrexia. Thirty animals were divided into six groups. Group A was orally administered normal saline (103 mg/kg). Group B was served indomethacin (5 mg/kg), while groups C and D received aqueous extract of Capsicum frutescens at 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg, 17 hours post induction of pyrexia. Groups E and F were administered extract of Morinda lucida at the same doses. Rectal temperature of the animals was taken at 60-, 90- and 120-minutes post-treatment.ResultsBoth C. frutescens and M. lucida produced significant reduction (p<0.05) in rectal temperature after 120 minutes in the rats compared with animals in the control group. Also, the antipyretic activities of the two extracts at 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg were comparable to 5mg/kg of indomethacin, with apparent dose dependence in the antipyretic activities of both extracts.ConclusionMorinda lucida leaves and fruits of Capsicum frutescens exhibit dose-dependent antipyretic activities.© 2023 Adefolalu AA et al.

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