Brine shrimp lethality bioassay of selected gymnosperm and angiosperm species

Abstract

Methanol extracts of selected species of flowering plants Anthemis cotula, A. ruthenica, Centaurea dubia (Asteraceae), Ajuga genevensis, A. chamaepitys, A. reptans, Micromeria albanica, M. cristata, M. dalmatica, M. juliana, Thymus tosevii (Lamiaceae) and conifers – Abies alba, Picea omorika, Pinus heldreichii (Pinaceae) and Taxus baccata (Taxaceae), as well as diethyl ether extracts of ten species Anthemis cotula, A. ruthenica, Centaurea dubia, Ajuga genevensis, A. chamaepitys, A. reptans, Micromeria albanica, M. cristata, M. dalmatica and M. juliana from two flowering plant families (Asteraceae and Lamiaceae) were tested for general bioactivity using brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality test. Lethal concentration (LC50) and 95% confidence intervals were determined by computer program LdP line. Out of fifteen tested methanol extracts, three possessed cytotoxic effect. Taxus baccata methanol extract showed the highest effect (LC50 = 18.60 µg/ml), while Thymus tosevii methanol extract expressed the lowest (LC50 = 842.50 µg/ml). All other analyzed species did not express significant cytotoxicity. Also, diethyl ether extracts of all tested species did not show significant cytotoxicity. The obtained results for methanol extracts which show certain cytotoxic effect could be guide for further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations.