Abstract
Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate brine shrimp lethality of Blighia sapida stem-bark extract and its fractions and identify the bioactive constituents in the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique.
 Methods: The ethanol extract (EE) and its fractions were subjected to lethality assay, and GC-MS analysis of EAF was carried out.
 Results: The lethality test showed a concentration-dependent mortality rate in the brine shrimp nauplii for the EE and its fractions. GC-MS analysis of EAF of the extract revealed the existence of 13 peaks of the GC-MS chromatogram with only one prominent compound, n-hexadecanoic acid (peak area of 10.13%).
 Conclusion: The result revealed the presence of 13 bioactive components in the EAF of the extract, the majority of which have been reported for different biological activities, hence, justifies the use of the plant in the treatment and management of different diseases ethnomedicinally.
Highlights
The idea that herbal medicines are safe and not toxic has not been correct because many plants in their natural states are toxic, and it has been documented that some plants used in herbal medicine are toxic [1]
The present study evaluated the cytotoxicity potential of the plant extract using Brine shrimps (Artemia salina) and screened for the bioactive compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique
B. sapida stem bark was screened for phytoconstituents, cytotoxicity was investigated with brine shrimp lethality assay using A. salina and active compounds from EAF identified using GC-MS
Summary
The idea that herbal medicines are safe and not toxic has not been correct because many plants in their natural states are toxic, and it has been documented that some plants used in herbal medicine are toxic [1] This has raised serious concern for toxicologists to evaluate the safety and potential toxicity of various bioactive compounds isolated and purified from plant extracts used in drug formulation and development. Different reliable, scientific in vitro and in vivo tests are available to evaluate the toxicity of herbal compounds used in drug development One of such model is brine shrimps lethality test, which has been recognized as a vital technique for assessment of toxicity [2,3]. Different parts of the plant have been used in the treatment and management of various diseases [8] including diabetes [9]
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