CITOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS OF ALOYSIA TRIPHYLLA ON ARTEMIA SALINA

CORTEZ MJ, OLIVA M, CASERO C, ZYGADLO J, SABINI L, DEMO M.

Huerta Grande (Cba)

Otro; I Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biología de la República Argentina; 2007

CITOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS OF ALOYSIA TRIPHYLLA ON ARTEMIA SALINA Cortez MJ, Oliva M, Casero C, Zygadlo J, Sabini L, Demo M. UNRC. Fac. Cs. Ex., Fc-Qcas. y Nat. Dpto. Microbiol. Inmunol. e-mail:moliva@exa.unrc.edu.ar Introduction: It has been given recent attention to determine the toxicity of extracts and biologically active compounds isolated from aromatic plant species used in herbal medicine. Consequently, in order to find non toxic substances to be used in medicine without side effects, new techniques are being performed. The brine shrimp (Artemia salina) assay is a convenient preliminary toxicity test, since it is highly sensitive to a variety of chemical substances. Objetive: to evaluate the toxicity of A .triphylla essential oils (EO) on A. salina. Materials and Methods: A.triphylla´s EOs were screened for toxicity with larvae of A .salina (brine shrimp) as described by Franssen et al., (1997). Finney`s probit analysis was used to determine the 50% lethal concentration (LC50) of EOs. Results and discussion: Toxicity of EOs to A. salina is poorly described. It was considered values of LC 50 >1000 mg/ml non-toxic. The EOs from Rio 1º and Las Viñas were non-toxic on A. salina (LC50= 1279 µg/ml and 3580 µg/ml, respectively). The rest of EOs samples showed different toxicity values. The EOs without toxicity were composed by a-thujone that is considered a neurotoxic compound. It could be suggested that the components included in the EOs are interacting chemically between them and neutralize the toxic effects of thujone in the oil. The chemical composition of the EOs could be determining the toxicity of them and non toxic ones should be taken into consideration for therapeutical formulations.