Antipyretic Agents from Plant Origins

Abstract

Plant metabolites have been used for medicinal purposes by humans since ancient times. The World Health Organization reports that nearly 80% of the developing world's population relies on traditional medicinal products to cure various ailments. Today, majority of antipyretic medications are synthetic, with adverse effects including stomach ulcers, liver necrosis, and kidney damage. In addition, people in Western countries are returning to herbal medicines because of their exhaustive pharmacologic activities, increased safety, and lower costs with proven efficacy. Several plant metabolites have been studied for their antipyretic effects. In the plant kingdom, nearly 50 000 secondary metabolites have been investigated. Alkaloids, polyphenols, saponins, terpenes/terpenoids, and steroids are the major groups of these compounds. This chapter discusses various pathways implicated in fever development. It also highlights the mechanisms of action of multiple plant parts that have been traditionally used to treat fever (a potential etiology of neurologic impairment). It wraps up by recommending further studies that would translate the current state of knowledge into clinical applications.