Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Toxic Effect of Melanthera scandens Leaf Extracts Using Brine Shrimp (Artemia salina) Test
Journal Title: Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research - Year 2016, Vol 1, Issue 3
Abstract
Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the toxicity of the crude extracts of Melanthera scandens leaves extracts using Brine Shrimp (Artemia salina) test in order to substantiate the ethnopharmacological uses of this plant in the treatment of different illnesses. Methodology: Extractions of the dried powdered leaves of Melanthera scandens by maceration was carried out using ethanol and distilled water. All the extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening using standard methods while the toxicity of the extracts was evaluated using Brine Shrimp lethality assay. The percentage lethality (mortality) of the brine shrimp were evaluated in six different concentrations; 1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.5 and 31.25 µg/ml and the lethal concentration LC50 for 50% mortality of brine shrimp after 24 h of exposure to the extracts was determined. Results: The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of saponins and cardiac glycosides in both extracts. However, tannins and flavonoids were present in the aqueous extracts while phlobatanins and terpenes/steroids were detected in the ethanol extract. The Brine Shrimp lethality assay revealed that ethanol and aqueous extracts were effective against brine shrimp nauplii with LC50 of 173.78 µg/ml and 331.13 µg/ml respectively. It was also observed that maximum mortalities took place at a concentration of 1000 μg/ml whereas least mortalities were at 31.25 μg/ml concentration. Conclusion: Results of the phytochemical screening indicated that bioactive phytoconstituents were present in this plant and that the ethanol extract showed better toxicity against brine shrimp with LC50 value 173.78 µg/ml when compared to aqueous extract with LC50 value of 331.13 µg/ml. As a result of this, ethanol extract may be considered significantly active and have the potential for further investigation.
Authors and Affiliations
I. E. Daniel, U. S. Ekam
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP350615
- DOI 10.9734/JOCAMR/2016/29842
- Views 67
- Downloads 0
Perceptions and Practices on the Use of Moringa oleifera Lam: A Qualitative Study amongst Elderly Mauritians
The multifaceted properties of Moringa oleifera have spurred renewed interest into exploiting its nutritional values in the developing countries. In Mauritius, however, Moringa oleifera is fast losing its culinary value...
Fatty Acid Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Baphia massaiensis Seed Oil
Aims: The seed oil composition of Baphia massaiensis seeds was determined using 1H NMR and GC-MS techniques. The seed oil was also screened for antimicrobial activity. Study Design: The study was designed to determine Ba...
Phytochemical, Acute Toxicity, Analgesic, in vitro Antioxidant Studies and GC-MS Investigation of Essential Oil of the Methanol Leaf Extract of Momordica charantia
Medicinal plants have bioactive compounds which play an important role in the healing of various diseases. They are the best sources for chemical ingredients, antimicrobial and antioxidant agents for cure of different di...
Successful Treatment with Traditional Herbal Medicine in the Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis Even Complicating with Atypical Mycobacterium Infection
Aims: There are still several problems in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapeutic strategies, although its outcome has been changing better than before. We present the RA patient with atypical mycobacterium infection succe...
Evaluation of Antioxidant Potentiality of Methanolic and Aqueous Extracts of Pandanus foetidus R. Leaves
Aim: Plants are the natural source of antioxidants take part a vital role in the treatment of many age-related diseases and improvement of public health. Therefore the present study was carried out to assess the antioxid...