Metabolites Evaluation, Cytotoxicity, and Teratogenicity Analysis of Selected Medicinal Plants

The study determined the cytotoxicity and teratogenicity of 28 species of medicinal plants. The phytochemical properties and antioxidant activity were also evaluated. Plant materials were extracted using ethanol as solvent. Brine shrimp assay was performed for cytotoxicity test and zebra fish embryo-based teratogenicity testing. The phytochemical constituents were detected using thin-layer chromatography, while the total phenolics and antioxidant activity were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and DPPH free radical scavenging assay, respectively. Results of phytochemical screening revealed the presence of 12 phytochemicals in the selected medicinal plants, which include essential oils, triterpenes, phenols, fatty acids, sugar, anthraquinones, coumarins, anthrone, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and alkaloids. Total phenolic content which ranges from 125.45 to 568.99 GAE/g and antioxidant activity of 40.25%-82.56% were recorded from M. calabura and Z. americana, respectively. For the cytotoxicity test, M. paniculata registered the least LC₅₀ of 1157.42 ppm, while C. asiatica has the highest LC₅₀ at 33,252.69 ppm. Meanwhile, for the teratogenicity testing, various morphological abnormalities and teratogenic effects were observed in different developmental stages of zebrafish, which are lethal and sublethal, such as coagulation, yolk sac, and pericardial edema, and malformations (head, spines, and tail), growth retardation, restricted movement, and pigmentation. The LC₅₀ values for teratogenicity suggest low to nonteratogenicity of the plant extracts with values ranging from 324 ppm in A. brasiliana to 11,933 ppm in P. cablin.