Qualitative Phytochemical Screening and Toxicity Levels of Some Medicinal Plants Using Drosophila Melanogaster
Keywords:
Maceration, Phytochemicals, Lethal, Toxicity, Medicinal PlantsAbstract
Three (3) selected plant samples were obtained and effectively extracted through maceration utilizing three distinct solvents, N-haxane, Chloroform, and Ethanol, in that order of increasing polarity. Boswellia dalzielli (bark), Gueira senegalensis(roots), and Annona squamosa L(leaves). The samples were labeled A, B, and C. After being extracted, the samples underwent some preliminary phytochemical screening in order to assess the plant bioactivity. Based on the results of the phytochemical analysis, sample C had high to moderate levels of phytochemicals in all three solvents; samples A and B also had moderate to low levels of phytochemicals in ethanol and chloroform, but sample A had low levels of those phytoconstituents in n-hexane. Toxicity studies were evaluated for all the extract and lethal doses at 50% (LD50) were analyzed and these are A (699.3mg/10g), B (284.9mg/10g), and C (759.8mg/10g). This result is expected to guide the traditional healers when using such plant for administration.