In vitro cytotoxic and membrane stabilizing activities of Alternanthera versicolor L.

Abstract

The crude methanolic extract of leaves of Alternanthera versicolor L. as well as their pet-ether, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and aqueous soluble fractions were tested to investigate the membrane stabilizing and cytotoxic activity. Among all extractives, dichloromethane soluble fraction (DCMSF) of crude extract of leaves of Alternanthera versicolor L. exhibited lowest cytotoxicity effect with LC50 value 30.63 µg/ml. From investigation results it can also be seen that mortality increased gradually with an increase in concentration of the test samples and maximum mortalities took place at the highest concentration of 400µg/ml. In addition, aqueous soluble fraction (AQSF) shows highest % inhibition of hypotonic solution induces hemolysis of erythrocyte membrane and dichloromethane soluble fraction (DCMSF) shows highest % inhibition of heat induces hemolysis of erythrocyte membrane. Therefore, considering the potential bioactivity, the plant can further be studied extensively to find out their unexplored efficacy and to rationalize their uses of traditional medicine.