Cytotoxic activity of Argentinean essential oils on Artemia salina.

OLIVA, M. DE LAS M.; GALLUCCI, N; ZYGADLO, J. A; DEMO, M. S.

PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY

Año: 2007 vol. 45 p. 259 - 262

1388-0209

Abstract   Aromatic plants are broadly used in popular medicine. Essential oils are receiving increasing attention in the pharmaceutical industry as they contain antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and anticancer substances. The brine shrimp (A. salina) assay is a convenient preliminary toxicity test, since it is highly sensitive to a variety of chemical substances. The essential oils of twelve vegetable species were obtained by a hydrodistillation process. Essential oils of all plants were screened for their toxicity with larvae of Artemia salina (brine shrimp) assay. The 50% lethal concentration (LC50) values of essential oils were determined by Finney`s probit analysis. Nontoxic essential oils for A. salina were: Aloysia polistachia (LC50: 6459mg/ml), Minthostachys verticillata (Griseb.)Epl (LC50: 1848mg/ml)., Aloysia triphylla (L`Herit.)Briton (LC50: 1279mg/ml) and Schinus poligamus (Cav.) Cabrera (LC50: 1179 mg/ml). The most toxic essential oils were Psila spartoides (H. et A) J.Rimy (LC50 :14 mg/ml) and Hyptis mutabilis (Rich.)Briq (LC50:30 mg/ml). Previous studies with the essential oils of these vegetables have shown antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria and yeast.   Keywords: Artemia salina,Toxic activity, Essential oils, Medicinal Plants