Full Length Research Paper

Cytotoxicity and phytotoxicity of some selected medicinal plants of the family Polygonaceae

Farrukh Hussain², Ishfaq Hameed², Ghulam Dastagir², Shams-un-Nisa³, Ibrar Khan¹ and Bashir Ahmad¹*

¹Pharma Biotech Research Laboratory, Centre of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan.

²Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Pakistan.

³Jinnah College for Women, University of Peshawar, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: bashirdr2001@yahoo.com. Tel: +92-91-9216485.

Accepted 9 November, 2009

   Abstract

The cytotoxicity of the crude methanolic extracts of Rumex hastatus, Rumex dentatus, Rumex nepalensis, Rheum australe, Polygonum persicaria and Polygonum plebejum (Family Polygonaceae) was determined against Artemia salina at 1000, 100 and 10 mg/ml. R. hastatus, R. dentatus and R. nepalensis showed significant activity at a concentration of 1000 mg/ml against Artemia salina. R. australe showed low activity at 1000 mg/ml and no activity at 100 and 10 mg/ml. At concentration of 10 mg/ml, R. australe showed no activity. Similarly the phytotoxicity of the crude extracts of these six plants was determined against Lemna minor. All the plants except R. hastatus showed significant activity at a concentration of 1000 mg/ml. Moderate activity was shown by R. australe, R. nepalensis and P. persicaria at the concentration of 100 mg/ml. All the plants showed low phytotoxic activity at concentration of 10 mg/ml.

Key words: Rumex hastatus, Rumex dentatus, Rumex nepalensis, Rheum australe, Polygonum persicaria, Polygonum plebejum, Artemia salina, Lemna minor, cytotoxicity, phytotoxicity.