Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay of Selected Medicinal Plants in Tanzania

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine the level of cytotoxicity activity of Mentha piperita (L), Tragia involucrata (L) and Urtica massaica (Mildbr) used as medicinal plants in Tanzania.

Study Design: Experimental study was carried out by using Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania, between July and October 2017.

Methodology: The plant materials were subjected to extraction using chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol for 48 hours. The potential cytotoxicity effect of the extracts was determined using brine shrimp toxicity assay.

Results: The leaf extracts of M. piperita ethyl acetate leaf and M. piperita methanol exhibited strong cytotoxicity effect against brine shrimp larvae with LC50 values of 32.65 and 41.58 µg/mL respectively while leaf extracts of M. piperita chloroform and T. involucrate ethyl acetate had weak cytotoxicity activity with LC50 values above 100 µg/mL.

Conclusion: Majority of the extracts confirmed to be toxic and thus possess anticancer activity. Further study on the isolation of bioactive compounds which are responsible for the activity is recommended.