Brine shrimp (Artemia salina Leach) bioassay of extracts from Lychnophoriopsis candelabrum and different Lychnophora species

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate on Artemia salina the citotoxicity of twenty-two extracts from five species of the genus Lychnophora and one species of the genus Lychnophoriopsis. The extracts solubilized in DMSO and prepared at the final concentrations of 100, 250, 375, 500 and 600 μg mL-1 were added to tubes containing Artemia salina nauplii (10 units each) and filled to 5 mL total volume with artificial salt water. Lapachol and 5% DMSO were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The samples were kept under light and dead larvae were counted after 24 hours of contact. LC50 was calculated by using Probit software. The crude ethanol extracts from five species showed low lethality in the following order: Lychnophora trichocarpha (LC50 = 672.38 μg mL-1) > Lychnophora pinaster (LC50 = 678.73 μg mL-1) > Lychnophora ericoides (LC50 = 738.09 μg mL-1) > Lychnophoriopsis candelabrum (LC50 = 812.57 μg mL-1) > Lychnophora passerina (LC50 = 921.78 μg mL-1). All tested extracts from L. candelabrum and chloroform extract from L. staavioides showed light toxicity on A. salina. Results indicated that there are substances with potential pharmacological activity in all tested species.