Phytochemical Screening and Toxicity Assessment of <>Imperata cylindrica</i> (L.) P. Beauv. (Poaceae) Raw Extracts with Brine Shrimp (<i>Artemia salina</i>) Lethality Assay

Abstract

Background: Herbal medicinal preparations are used as dietary supplements for disease prevention and as alternative/complementary medicine. The growing interest in herbal medicine raises the question of its safety and efficacy. Numerous recorded cases of intoxication and toxicological studies reveal that medicinal plants can be toxic, which hinders their safe use. Plant intoxications related to a variety of factors include plant organs and many extraction solvents. Little toxicological data on medicinal plants is available. The need to investigate is important for safe use. Imperata cylindrica, a poaceae, is one of the medicinal plants for which few toxicological data are available. Materials & Methods: To expand toxicological data, water, 70% ethanol, and 30% acetone extracts of the leaves and roots, obtained by maceration and reflux methods, were used for phytochemicals molecules qualitative detection and toxicity test by the brine shrimp lethality assay. Results: The qualitative analysis of the different extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, polyphenolic compounds, saponins, and polyterpenoids. The toxicity endpoint was lethal concentration 50 (LC50). The leaves’ extracts LC50 was between 489.78 μg/mL and 1066.6 μg/mL. As for the root extracts, the LC50 was between 341.98 μg/mL and 1530 μg/mL. Discussion: The different compounds’ presence justifies the use of Imperata cylindrica as a medicinal plant. According to Clarkson classification the root extracts are moderately toxic (LC50: 168.47 μg/mL), and leaf extracts are weakly toxic (LC50: 527.25 μg/mL). The extrapolation made in relation to the Gosselin, Smith, and Hodge scale, allows us to characterize the Imperata cylindrica root and leaf extracts as non-toxic to humans by oral route. Conclusion: This result can be a base for more precise toxicological studies.