Phytochemical Screening and Cytotoxic Activity of Martynia annua L. Leaves Extracts

J. Vinnarasi¹, A. Anto Arockia Raj¹_, G. Leema Rose^2*
1Department of Chemistry, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Palayamkottai-627 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
²Department of Chemistry, Holy Cross College (Autonomous), Nagercoil-629 004, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract
The present study was intended to reveal the metabolites presence and determine the cytotoxic potential of various extracts of Martynia annua (Martyniaceae) leaves. The shade dried and powdered leaves materials (50 g) were extracted successively with 300 ml of petroleum ether, ethanol, chloroform and acetone, by using Soxhlet extractor for 8 h at a temperature not exceeding the boiling point of the solvent. Phytochemical screening of the extracts was carried out according to the standard methods. In cytotoxic activity the hatched shrimps were taken for bioassay. The acetone and alcohol extracts showed many photochemical constituents and an alcoholic extract has higher cytotoxic activity. The qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloid, flavonoid, tannins, terpenoid, steroid, phenol, cardiac and saponin glycosides in alcoholic leaves extracts of M. annua. Maximum number of metabolites (9/13) presence was observed in the alcoholic extracts of M. annua followed by acetaone extracts (8/13). Cytotoxic activity was analysed in terms of brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The alcoholic  and acetone extracts of M. annua was found to be most effective at which 50% mortality of brine shrimp nauplii occurred were found to be 239.48 and 328.21ppm respectively. The results of the present study revealed the cytotoxic Potential of M.annua.
Keywords: Phytochemical, Cytotoxic, Martynia annua.