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Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Vol. 9, Issue 3 (2020)

Bioactivity of 68 species of medicinal plants of eastern Nicaragua

Author(s):

Felix G Coe, Dimpi M Parikh, Caley A Johnson, Monika Kucharczyk and Janet A Tovar

Abstract:
Context: Plant based medicinals form the basis for a significant part of medical treatment in many places including Nicaragua. Tests that indicate the presence/absence of alkaloids, and general biotoxicity evaluations are critical elements to predicting effectiveness and evaluating safety.
Objective: To determine the bioactivity and cytotoxicity of aqueous extracts of widely used medicinal species in eastern Nicaragua.
Materials and Methods: Ethnomedicinal applications were obtained from interviews of traditional healers. We used Dragendorff’s reagent to test alkaloids and brine shrimp for cytotoxicity of aqueous extracts.
Results: Forty-five of the 68 species (55 genera and 33 plant families) tested positive for alkaloids. The median lethal concentration that kills 50% of the larvae within 24 h of contact with the extract (LC50) was less than 249 µg/mL for 6 (9%) species, 250-499 µg/mL for 7 (10%) species, 500-1000 µg/mL for 27 (40%) species, 1001-2500 µg/mL for 10 (15%) species, 2501-5000 µg/mL for 12 (18%) species, 5001-7500 µg/mL for 5 (7%) species and between 7501-10000 µg/mL for 1 (1%) species. Of the 46 alkaloid bearing species only 6 (13%) species were considered highly cytotoxic at a concentration of < 249 µg/mL.
Discussion and Conclusion: The overall results from the study of these new species studied are in accord with our previous conclusions: the majority of medicinals used in traditional medicine do contain likely bioactive alkaloids and other secondary metabolites, and most are not cytotoxic. Of course, even medicinals without alkaloids also can be effective in numerous ways.

Pages: 101-112  |  1492 Views  623 Downloads


Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
How to cite this article:
Felix G Coe, Dimpi M Parikh, Caley A Johnson, Monika Kucharczyk and Janet A Tovar. Bioactivity of 68 species of medicinal plants of eastern Nicaragua. J Pharmacogn Phytochem 2020;9(3):101-112.

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