• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.182-185
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• 2009

Amoora cucullata (Meliaceae), a mangrove plant, has folkloric reputation as a medicinal agent in Bangladesh. In this study, the n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of the stem bark of this plant were subjected to microbiological investigation and brine shrimp lethality bioassay. In case of antimicrobial screening, the ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts appeared to be potent in terms of both zone of inhibition and spectrum of activity showing the average zones of inhibition 8 - 14 mm and 9 - 16 mm, respectively. In the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the methanolic extract demonstrated highest cytotoxicity having $LC_{50}$ of $0.549{\mu}g/ml$, whereas the ethyl acetate and n-hexane extract showed $LC_{50}$ of 7.943 and $17.180{\mu}g/ml$, respectively.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2006

The crude ethanol extract of the stem bark of Trewia polycarpa (Family: Euphorbiaceae) was subjected to acetic acid induced writhing inhibition, Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radical scavenging assay for screening of analgesic, cytotoxic and antioxidant activity respectively. The extract produced significant (P < 0.001) writhing inhibition in acetic acid induced writhing in mice at the dose of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively, which were comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium. The extract showed significant lethality to Brine Shrimp and the $LC_{50}$ value was $8\;{\mu}g/ml$. The extract showed prominent free radical scavenging activity ($IC_{50}$ about ${\sim}10\;{\mu}g/ml$) compare to standard drug ascorbic acid ($IC_{50}about\;{\sim}15\;{\mu}g/ml$). The results tend to suggest that the crude ethanol extract of the bark might possess analgesic, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities or active constituent(s) responsible for the activities.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2005

The leaf extracts of Araucaria bidwillii Hook. (Araucariaceae) were evaluated for their cytotoxic effect in various human cancer cell lines. Preliminary investigation by brine shrimp lethality assay indicated that $LC_{50}$ value of various successive extracts were found to be less than $1000\;{\mu}g/ml$, where the ethyl acetate extract showed maximum activity of less than $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. Further cytotoxic evaluation of various leaf extracts of Araucaria bidwilli Hook was carried out in four different human cancer cell lines-acute myeloblastic leukemia (HL-60), chronic myelogenic leukemia (K-562), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and cervical epithelial carcinoma (HeLa). Cytotoxicity was assessed by trypan blue dye exclusion method and 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazole-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay. From the present investigation it was found that the ethyl acetate and methanol extract of Araucaria bidwilli Hook was found to be more effective in leukemic cell lines and was less effective in MCF-7 and HeLa. The $IC_{50}$ value of the ethyl acetate extract in leukemic cell lines was found to be $28.18\;and\;34.64\;{\mu}g/ml$ and methanol extract was found to be $33.11\;&\;39.81\;{\mu}g/ml$. It can be concluded that various extract from the leaves of Araucaria bidwillii Hook. posses cytotoxic activity tested in brine shrimps and various human carcinoma cell lines.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.82-87
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• 1998

Brine shrimp lethality test has become one of our routine tools in selecting plant materials for further chemical or bioactivity studies in our laboratory. Usually, once a potentially bioactive sample has been identified, it will then be subjected to more elaborate bioassay procedures. Out of more than 200 plant samples tested we found eight samples to be toxic towards brine shrimp larvae.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2008

The plant Quisqualis indica (Compositae) has ehnopharmcological reputation of being used as a healing agent in Bangladesh. In this study, preliminary screenings were conducted to look at the antimicrobial susceptibility and cytotoxicity of the plant extract. The extractives of the plant were subjected to screening for inhibition of microbial growth by the disc diffusion method. The zones of inhibition demonstrated by the n-hexane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and aqueous soluble partitionates of the methanolic extract ranged from 8 - 15 mm, 8 - 18 mm, 12 - 20 mm and 10 - 16 mm, respectively at a concentration of 400 ${\mu}g$/disc. All the extractives were also subjected to brine shrimp lethality bioassay for primary cytotoxicity evaluation. Here, the carbon tetrachloride soluble materials demonstrated the highest cytotoxicity with $LC_{50}$ of 0.826 ${\mu}g$/ml, while n-hexane, chloroform and aqueous soluble partitionates of the methanolic extract revealed the $LC_{50}$ of 1.254, 3.866 and 5.366 ${\mu}g$/ml, respectively. This is the first report of the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity Q. indica.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.7-15
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• 2014

Objectives: The present study investigated the toxic properties of petroleum ether extract of Wattakaka (W.) volubilis in Wistar female rats. Methods: An in vitro brine shrimp lethality bioassay was studied in A. Salina nauplii, and the lethality concentrations were assessed for petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis. A water soluble portion of the test extract was used in different concentrations from $100-1000{\mu}g/mL$ of 1 mg/mL stock solution. A 24-hours incubation with a 1-mL aliquot in 50 mL of aerated sea water was considered to calculate the percentage rate of dead nauplii with test extract administration against a potassium-dichromate positive control. The acute and the sub-acute toxicities of petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis were evaluated orally by using gavage in female Wistar rats. Food and water intake, body weight, general behavioral changes and mortality of animals were noted. Toxicity or death was evaluated following the administration of petroleum ether extract for 28 consecutive days in the female rats. Serum biochemical parameters, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, glucose, urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and ${\alpha}$-amylase levels, were measured in the toxicity evaluations. Pathological changes in isolated organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, were also examined using hematoxylin and eosin dye fixation after the end of the test extract's administration. Results: The results of the brine-shrimp assay indicate that the evaluated concentrations of petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis were found to be non-toxic. In the acute and the sub-acute toxicity evaluations, no significant differences were observed between the control animals and the animals treated with extract of W. volubilis. No abnormal histological changes were observed in any of the animal groups treated with petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis. Conclusion: These results suggest that petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis has a non-toxic effect in Wistar female rats.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.173-182
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• 2014

To simplify the different biological investigation of the methanolic extract and solvent-solvent partitioning of Lablab purpures (L. purpures) bark. In-vitro anti-oxidant study was determined using total DPPH radical scavenging assay. In vitro antimicrobial study was measured by observing zone of inhibition. The cytotoxic activity was studied using brine shrimp lethality bioassay and thrombolytic activity by clot disruption method. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Folin-Ciocalteau reagents using butylated hydroxytolune (BHT) and ascorbic acid as standards. The Aqueous soluble fraction revealed the highest free radical scavenging activity ($IC_{50}=48.76{\mu}g/mL$). The antimicrobial screening of the bark of L. purpures exhibited mild to moderate activity in test microorganisms. The CSF showed the maximum relative percentage inhibition against Salmonella parathyphi (34.2%) for bacteria and C. albicans (28.8%) for fungi whereas, lowest relative percentage inhibition against Sarcina lutea (22.0%) for bacteria and Aspergillus niger (24.4%) for fungi. In the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, The $LC_{50}$ values of Carbon tetrachloride and N-Hexane soluble fraction were found $92.18{\mu}g/mL$, and $68.95{\mu}g/mL$ respectively while the $LC_{50}$ values of standard Vincristine sulphate was $1.37{\mu}g/mL$. The methanolic extract and its organic soluble fractions of Lablab purpureus at concentration 2.0 mg/mL, significantly protected the lysis of erythrocyte membrane induced by hypotonic solution and heat as compared to the standard, acetyl salicylic acid (0.10 mg/mL). The MSF and AQSF produced 61.48 % and 53.75% inhibition of hemolysis of RBC caused by hypotonic solution respectively, whereas acetyl salicylic acid (0.10 mg/mL) showed 76.42%. Ethanol extract of L. purpures and all of its different partitions exhibited moderate thrombolytic activity of 37.25%-2.40%. Very good preliminary screening and simplified experiments were able to show the different biological activity of methanolic extract and its soluble fractions of L. purpures at a time.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.385-389
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• 2007

We undertook the present study to evaluate different pharmacological as antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of the crude ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia (Family: Cucurbitaceae) leaves. The antioxidant property of the extract was assessed by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radical scavenging assay. The extract showed antioxidant activity where $IC_{50}$ was about ${\sim}500{\mu}g/ml\;and\;IC_{50}$ was about ${\sim}10{\mu}g/ml$ for standard drug ascorbic acid. The extract showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against all the tested gram positive and gram-negative bacteria where Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Shigella dysenteriae were prominent. And the zones of inhibition were ranging from 8-15 mm for all the tested bacteria. Its cytotoxic property was evaluated by brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The extract showed significant lethality and the $LC_{50}$ value was $20{\mu}g/ml$.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2008

The plant Eclipta prostrata, a member of the Compositae family, has folkloric reputation of being used as a medicinal agent in Bangladesh. In the present investigation, attempt was taken to explore the antimicrobial potency and cytotoxicity of its extractives and purified compounds. The methanolic extract of the whole plant, its n-hexane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, aqueous soluble fractions and two purified compounds, eclalbasaponin I (1) and II (2), obtained from Eclipta prostrata were subjected to screening for inhibition of microbial growth by the disc diffusion method at 300 and 100 ${\mu}g$/disc for extracts and pure compounds, respectively. In this case, the carbon tetrachloride and chloroform soluble fractions of the methanolic extract appeared very potent in terms of both zone of inhibition and spectrum of activity. However, all the extractives were also subjected to brine shrimp lethality bioassay for preliminary cytotoxicity evaluation. Here, the carbon tetrachloride soluble fraction of methanolic extract revealed the strongest cytotoxicity having $LC_{50}$ of 1.318 ${\mu}g$/ml.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 2007

We undertook the present study to evaluate different pharmacological as antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of the crude ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Holarhena antidysenterica (Family: Apocynaceae). The antioxidant property of the extract was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radical scavenging assay. The extract showed antioxidant activity ($IC_{50}$ about ${\sim}08$ ${\mu}g/ml$), which was comparable to standard drug ascorbic acid ($IC_{50}$ about ${\sim}10$ ${\mu}g/ml$). The extract showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against all tested gram positive and gram negative bacteria most prominent against Enterococci, Staphylococcus pyogenase and Shigella sonnie. And the zones of inhibitions were ranging from 10 - 21 mm for all the tested bacteria. Its cytotoxic property was evaluated by brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The extract showed significant lethality and the $LC_{50}$, $LC_{90}$ values were 80 ${\mu}g/ml$, 320 ${\mu}g/ml$ respectively. The results tend to suggest that the extract might possess chemical constituent(s) that are responsible for antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities.