ANTI-PYRETIC ACTIVITY OF TARAXEROL ACETATE

ABSTRACT
Objectives: To investigate the anti-pyretic effect of Taraxerol acetate, a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from the aerial
parts of Artemisia roxburghiana.
Methods: The plant materials were shade dried and ground into powder which was extracted 3 times by soaking with
24 L of methanol for two weeks. Preliminary fractionation of the crude extract, obtained from combine extract, was done
by using solvents of increasing polarity: hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The ethyl acetate fraction was
subjected to silica gel column chromatography with hexane to yield taraxerol acetate. The structure of isolated compound
was confirmed by comparing their corresponding NMR and mass spectral data with those previously reported.
Yeast induced pyrexia model was used to carry out the anti-pyretic activity of Taraxerol acetate in Wistar adult rats.
Results: TA produced a significant decrease in the temperature of rats. The anti-pyretic effect of TA was dose dependent.
When compared to standard drug, initially its action was similar to that but its effect reduced (decreased) earlier
than aspirin.
Conclusion: Taraxerol acetate has a significant anti-pyretic effect in addition to its gastroprotective effect making it a
safer anti-pyretic agent.