Cytotoxicity of selected medicinal plants used in Mt. Frere District, South Africa.
BACKGROUND
In South African traditional medicine, some are plants known to combat pediatric diseases and are commonly used by traditional healers. The aim was to evaluate cytotoxicity effects of plants.


METHODS
The ground plant material was exhaustively extracted using methanol, acetone and water separately for 72 hrs. These organic solvents were removed from filtrates using a rotavapour. Stock solutions were prepared at 40 mg/ml Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and test solutions were transferred into vials and 10 brine shrimps introduced in each. The number of dead shrimps was counted to ascertain toxicity. Ten A. salina nauplii (larva) were transferred into each sample vial and filtered brine solution was added to make 5 ml. The nauplii were counted macroscopically in the stem of the pipette against a lighted background. A drop of dry yeast suspension was added as food to each vial. Probit analysis was used to determine the concentration at which lethality to brine shrimp represents 50 % (LC50).


RESULTS
All the tested extracts showed that the concentration is directly proportional to death of brine shrimps. Fifty percent lethality (LC50) of the tested crude extract ranged between 4.1 and 4.6 µg/ml with methanol extract of B. abyssinica being the lowest and T. acutiloba the highest.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that 100% of plant crude extracts screened for activity against Artemisia salina larvae showed strong cytotoxicity below 10 µg/ml and plant species with LC50 values < 1000 µg/ml may not make good paediatric remedies due to their inherent toxicity.
Department of Botany, School of Applied & Environmental Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha 5117.
Dorris
D
Mnengi
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology University of Zululand Private Bag X1001 KwaDlangezwa 3668.
Abidemi
A
Kappo
Department of Horticulture, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town 7535.
Learnmore
L
Kambizi
Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Centre, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha 5117.
Motebang
M
Nakin
D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013019:South Africa
D010936:Plant Extracts
Medicinal plants; cytotoxicity; traditional pediatrics