Phytochemical Analysis and Cytotoxicity Potential of Pittosporum pentandrum (Mamalis) Crude Leaf Extract Using Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay

Abstract

In the Philippines, Pittosporum pentandrum, locally known as Mamalis, is intently utilized by traditional herbalists to treat patients with various cases. Although Mamalis have been medicinally useful internationally and locally, only few studies have provided scientific data to confirm its cytotoxic activities. In this present study, crude extract of Pittosporum pentandrum or Mamalis leaves was tested in vivo for its cytotoxic effects against brine shrimp nauplii and relate its toxicity results with its known phytochemical and ethnobotanical activities. In summary, Mamalis crude extract contain phytochemicals such as alkaloids, triterpenoids, flavonoids and tannin that may be attributed to its ability to be used as a herbal medicine against pathogenic microorganisms or cancerous cells. Using BSLA, the cytotoxic capability of Mamalis crude extract is evident at 0.01%  (100 (100 µg/ml) to 0.09% (900 µg/ml) with a LC₅₀ at 0.05% (500 µg/ml). The toxicity criteria of the said LC₅₀ is ‘toxic’ and ‘moderately toxic’ according to Meyer’s and Clarkson’s toxicity index, respectively. These results also proved that Mamalis crude extract can be further examined as an antimicrobial or antitumor agent.