B P International

The phytochemicals used by plants to protect themselves against predators in Moringa oleifera roots were qualitatively identified in the aqueous and ethanol extracts. Its acute toxicity in 24 h was evaluated in Swiss albino mice. M. oleifera, a native plant of the sub-Himalayan tracts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan is used in folk medicine. It is claimed to have nutritional, medicinal, socio-economic and industrial values. Many individuals and families consume the roots for their medicinal properties. Despite wide use the roots, the phytochemicals and toxicity profile are not well documented. This study set out to determine the phytochemicals and acute toxicity of M. oleifera roots in mice. The roots were harvested during dry season and air dried. Serial extractions using ether, ethanol and water were done. The harvested phytochemicals were qualitatively identified using standard chemicals procedures. The phytochemicals identified were: Gallic tannins, catechol tenni...

Aims: This work aimed to determine the toxicity of Bauhinia monandra leaf lectin (BmoLL) to mice and Artemia salina. Study design: BmoLL was purified from the leaves of B. monandra through affinity chromatography and tested against mice and A. salina in order to evaluate its toxicity. Methodology: The lectin purification was performed through saline precipitation and chromatography onto a guar gel column. The acute toxicity of BmoLL was evaluated using female mice during 14 days. Toxicity of BmoLL to A. salina larvae was also evaluated. Results: BmoLL did not induce death or weight loss of mice at 2000 mg/kg b.w.; additionally, the lectin did not affect the survival of A. salina at the assayed concentrations (250–1,000 µg/mL). Conclusion: BmoLL is an interesting molecule to investigate pharmacological applications due to its low toxicity according to the two models used in this work. Author(s) Details Dr. Chrisjacele Santos Ferreira de Araújo Departamen...