title: Cytotoxicity of the rhizome of medicinal plants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the cytotoxicity of the crude ethanol extract of the rhizome of Zingiber zerumbet (Z. zerumbet) (L) Smith. and Curcuma zedoaria (C. zedoaria) Rosc. against Artemia salina Leach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh rhizomes of Z. zerumbet (L) Smith. and C. zedoaria Rosc. were extracted separately in cold with ethanol (2.5 L) and after concentration a brownish syrupy suspension of ethanol extracts of Z. zerumbet (L) Smith. and C. zedoaria Rosc. was obtained. The cytotoxic effect of the crude ethanol extracts of both plants was determined by brine shrimp lethality bioassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Crude ethanol extracts of the rhizome of Z. zerumbet (L) Smith. showed the highest cytotoxicity (LC50 was 1.24 µg/mL) against brine shrimp nauplii as compared with C. zedoaria Rosc. (LC50 was 33.593 µg/mL) after 24 h of exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that the rhizome of Z. zerumbet (L) Smith. and C. zedoaria Rosc. can be used as a source of cytotoxic agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Shakhawoat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Golam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kader
authors.forename: Farjana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nikkon
authors.forename: Tanzima
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yeasmin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000633:toxicity; D027343:Rhizome / Q000633:toxicity*; D030521:Zingiberaceae / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Bangladesh; Curcuma zedoaria; Cytotoxicity; Zingiber zerumbet