Antipyretic and antimicrobial activity of dewberry leaves (Rubus Caesius L.)

Aim – evaluation of antipyretic and antimicrobial activity of dewberry leaves in preclinical studies.

Material and methods. The study objects were aqueous and ethanolic extracts from leaves of Rubus caesius collected in Brest and Minsk Regions of Belarus (June 2023–2024). The raw material was dried at room temperature without direct sunlight, then pulverized. Antipyretic activity was assessed in vivo using a pyrogenal-induced fever model in rats. Antimicrobial activity was studied by diffusion to agar with four types of microorganisms: E. coli (АТСС 25922), P. aeruginosa (АТСС 27853), S. aureus (АТСС 25923), B. subtilis (ATCC 6633), and C. albicans (АТСС 10231). The level of АТСС 25922 was identified by the diameter of growth inhibition of microorganisms.

Results. The aqueous extract of leaves of dewberry reduces the body temperature in animals vs. control group by 0.34-0.83°C (p<0.05; in the fifth hour after pyrogenal introduction the difference was 0.71°C, p>0.05). The antipyretic activity of an aqueous extract of dewberry leaves at a dose of 500 mg / kg is comparable to the antipyretic activity of acetylsalicylic acid at a dose of 200 mg / kg. Aqueous-ethanolic extracts of Rubus caesius leaves exhibited antimicrobial activity against the studied bacterial strains B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa. The area of growth inhibition of the С. albicans fungus strain was 11.5 to 14.00 mm.

Conclusions. Antipyretic activity of the aqueous extract of dewberry leaves was confirmed in laboratory animals with the model of pyrogenal-induced fever, antimicrobial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts from leaves of dewberry was confirmed with respect to B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, С. albicans.