Evaluation of Kutaja (Holerrhena pubescens) Bark and Seed Powders in Brewer’s Yeast-Induced Pyrexia in Rats: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Kutaja is a medicinal plant used in Ayurvedic practice, including Jwara. Both bark and seed have a history of medicinal use, but direct experimental information on their ability to reduce fever remains limited.

Objectives: This study examined changes in rectal temperature after administration of Kutaja bark and seed powders in rats after subjected to Brewer’s yeast-induced fever. Their responses were compared with the vehicle group/Control group and with Standard /paracetamol group.

Materials and methods: The study comprised 24 Wistar albino rats divided into four groups of six each: A. Control group (CMC), B. Standard group (Paracetamol), C. Kutaja seed and D. Kutaja bark. The experimental evaluation gives a dose of 54 mg/rat for each Kutaja preparation. Rectal temperature was measured before treatment and 18 hours after administration of trial drugs at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 min. For analysis, each post-treatment value was expressed as the difference from that animal’s baseline temperature. One-way ANOVA was carried out separately for each observation time, with Holm adjustment applied to the six overall tests. Welch’s t-test was used as an exploratory analysis for comparisons involving the Kutaja groups.

Results: Between-group differences in change from baseline were observed at 30 min (F=13.340, Holm-adjusted p=0.0003), 90 min (F=18.828, p<0.0001), 120 min (F=8.962, p=0.0026), 150 min (F=5.377, p=0.0161) and 180 min (F=8.120, p=0.0038), but not at 60 min (F=2.344, p=0.1053). At 90 min, mean changes from baseline were +1.75°C for seed and +1.83°C for bark compared with +0.30°C for vehicle control. At 180 min, the corresponding changes were −0.07°C and +0.02°C versus −0.72°C in controls. No adjusted comparison between Kutaja seed and bark was statistically significant. The paracetamol group did not show a consistent temperature-lowering advantage over vehicle control.

Conclusion: In the observations available for analysis, neither Kutaja seed nor bark produced a pattern consistent with an antipyretic effect. Significant overall group differences occurred at several time points, but the Kutaja groups generally showed greater increases from baseline rather than the expected fall in temperature. The present findings therefore do not provide evidence of antipyretic efficacy and should be regarded as exploratory and inconclusive.