PHYTOCHEMICAL CONTENT AND TOXICOLOGICAL POTENTIALS OF Musa textilis, Agathis philippinensis AND Cinnamomum mercadoi LEAF EXTRACTS FROM MAT-I, CLAVERIA, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Plants have been well-known to be an excellent source of potentially bioactive compounds. Even with this great importance, modernization and industrialization continually threaten our knowledge of using plants as traditional medicines. In this study, ethanol and ethyl acetate crude extracts of Musa textilis, Agathis philippinensis, and Cinnamomum mercadoi leaves were investigated for its phytochemical content and toxicological potentials. These plants have been known to be used by indigenous people of Mat-I, Claveria Philippines, for various ailments. Standard methods were utilized to determine the qualitative presence of different phytochemicals while Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay was used to evaluate toxicological potentials. From the results, A. philippinensis ethyl acetate extracts and C. mercadoi ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts are considered active or slightly toxic at prolong administration. Results of phytochemical screening revealed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, amino acids, triterpenoids, steroids and terpenoids in A. philippinensis ethyl acetate extracts and C. mercadoi crude ethanol and crude ethyl acetate extracts. While A. philippinensis ethanol extracts is observed to contain flavonoids, amino acids, triterpenoids, steroids and terpenoids. M. textilis ethanol extracts is observed to contain flavonoids, amino acids and steroids, while results revealed the presence of flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids and terpenoids in its ethyl acetate extracts. A. philippinensis ethyl acetate extracts and C. mercadoi ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed to be active and contain bioactive components that could be potential for further studies. Further studies are suggested to isolate and characterize these natural products for in-depth bioassay studies.