Antipyretic activity of an aqueous extract of Zizyphus joazeiro Mart. (Rhamnaceae).

Bark infusions of Zizyphus joazeiro Mart. (Rhamnaceae) have been employed in Northeastern Brazil as a remedy for fever. This study investigated the antipyretic activity of an aqueous extract of the plant in rabbits rendered febrile by intravenous injection of E. coli endotoxin. Fever responses were significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) by the oral administration of a bark infusion of Z. joazeiro Mart. These results lend support to the popular use of infusions of this plant in folk medicine as a remedy for fever and suggest that the characterization of the principle(s) responsible for such activity deserves further investigation.