Determination of cytotoxicity of selected plant extracts and flavonoids using brine shrimp assay

Cytotoxic potential of selected plant extracts and flavonoids was determined using brine shrimp assay.The plant extracts selected were tulasi, spinach and ajwain.The flavonoids/polyphenols selected were kaempferol and eugenol.To determine cytotoxicity, Artemia salina (brine shrimp) were hatched using artificial seawater (37 g NaCl/L).Then, the brine shrimp were incubated in plant extracts with concentrations of 100, 30, 10, 3 and 1 µg/mL.Similarly, different concentrations of flavonoids at 100, 30, 10, 3 and 1 µg/mL were taken to incubate brine shrimp for a period of 24 h.After 24 h, number of dead and live nauplii were counted.The data obtained was analysed to get the LD 50 values of the plant extracts and flavonoids.Results showed that the plant extract ajwain was least potent against brine shrimp with obtained LD 50 values of 5.01 and 7.52 µg/mL from graphical and Karber's methods, respectively, and eugenol was most potent with an LD 50 value of 1.6 µg/mL.Therefore, the obtained results support that the selected plant extracts and flavonoids were bioactive compounds.