Brine Shrimp Toxicity of Fractionated Extracts of Malaysian Medicinal Plants

  • Mackeen, Mukram M. (Department of Biotechnology, Universiti Putra Malaysia) ;
  • Khan, Mohammad N. (Department of Chemistry, University of Malaya) ;
  • Samadi, Zainudin (Department of Chemistry, Universiti Putra Malaysia) ;
  • Lajis, Nordin H. (Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia)
  • Published : 2000.09.01

Abstract

The methanol, dichloromethane, petroleum ether, 90% methanol and 1-butanol fractions of 40 Malaysian medicinal plants belonging to 25 families were tested for brine shrimp lethality. Various parts and fractions of eight (20%) plants, viz. Annona muricata, Cerbera odollam. Calophyllum inophyllum, Entada phaseoloides, Pithecellobium jiringa, Crotolaria retusa, Morinda elliptica and Sellaginella willdenovii showed very strong toxicity $(LC_{50}:$<$100\;ppm)$. The methanol extract of the seed of Calophyllum inophyllum showed exceptionally toxic activity $(LC_{50}:$<$5\;ppm)$.

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