Ethnopharmacology of rhinoceros horn. II: Antipyretic effects of prescriptions containing rhinoceros horn or water buffalo horn.

Aqueous extracts of rhinoceros horn or water buffalo horn demonstrated significant antipyretic action at 2.5 g/ml i.p. (1 ml/animal) in rats with hyperthermia induced by subcutaneous injection of turpentine oil. Qingying Decoction, a classic compound prescription composed of rhinoceros horn and eight herbs, showed significant antipyretic action at dosages equivalent to 0.5 g/ml of rhinoceros horn extract. Comparable action was obtained by Qingying Decoction prepared with water buffalo horn. It is suggested that water buffalo horn can be used as a substitute for rhinoceros horn in treating hyperthermia, especially when prepared with other herbal materials according to the principles of compound prescriptions of Chinese medicine.