Cytotoxic, Anthalmintic and Analgesic Activities of the Methanol Extract of Ricinus communis (Family: Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical screening, cytotoxicity, anthelmintic activity and analgesic properties of the methanol extract (leaves) of Ricinus communis (Family: Euphorbiaceae). The methanol extract of the leaves showed mild cytotoxic activity with the LC₅₀ value 6.456 µg/mL compared to vincristine sulfate (LC₅₀ 0.812 µg/mL) using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The anthelmintic activity was performed by observing the time of paralysis and the time of death of earthworms Pheretima posthuma compared with the standard drug, Albendazole. The range of minimum to maximum time of paralysis and death of Albendazole at the conc. 100 mg/mL was 3 min 6 s to 10 min 23 s whereas the range of minimum to maximum time of paralysis and death of the fresh leaf juice was 38 min 52 s to 46 min 32 s respectively. The analgesic potential of the extract was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing test (66.01% of inhibition) against peripheral mechanism of pain, and Tail immersion and Hot plate to understand the central Analgesic activity in mice (Swiss albino mice) at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses. The results of the present study suggested that the extract possesses significant analgesic activity in mice, which is comparable to the standard drug Diclofenac-Na. This activity of the plant is due to the important phytochemical constituents like flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, steroids, etc.

Keywords: Ricinus communis L, brine shrimp lethality bioassay, anthelmintic activity, analgesic activity, vincristine sulfate, Albendazole, Diclofenac-Na

Cite this Article

Mim Asma Ara, Chowdhury Sadia Afreen. Cytotoxic, Anthalmintic and Analgesic Activities of The Methanol Extract of Ricinus Communis (Family: Euphorbiaceae). Research and Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology (RRJoT). 2015; 5(1): 27–35p.