Comparative cytotoxic and spectrophotometric quantification of phytochemicals of the methanol extracts of the leaf and root bark of <i>Securinega virosa</i> (Roxb ex. Willd) Baill (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

The comparative cytotoxic and spectrophotometric quantification of phytochemicals of the methanol extracts of the leaf and root bark of Securinega virosa was carried out. Phytochemical screening and spectrophotometric quantification of total flavonoids and phenolics of the extracts were carried out using standard reported methods. Phytochemicals detected in the extracts include alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, terpenoids and saponins. The total flavonoids and phenolic contents were observed to be more on the leaves than the root bark. The cytotoxic effects of the methanol extracts were evaluated between 10-400 µg/ml over a period of 24 hr using the tadpole mortality assay. At 100 µg/ml, the methanol extract of the leaf produced 73.30 ± 3.33% mortality which increases to 100 % at 200 and 400 µg/ml while the root barks produced 26.78 ± 4.45 and 56.70 ± 6.67 % mortalities respectively at the same concentrations. The significant cytotoxic effects observed coupled with the presence of phytochemicals such as phenolics supports the ethnomedicinal claim of this plant in treating cancer in Ogun State. Keywords: Cytotoxicity; Phytochemicals, Securinega virosa ; Phenolics; Raniceps raninus; Spectrophotometric