Insecticidal, brine shrimp cytotoxicity, antifungal and nitric oxide free radical scavenging activities of the aerial parts of Myrsine africana L.

Abstract

The crude methanolic extract and various fractions derived from the aerial parts of Myrsine africana were screened in vitro for possible insecticidal, antifungal, brine shrimp lethality and nitric oxide free radical scavenging activities. Low insecticidal activity (20 %) was shown by chloroform (CHCl₃) and aqueous fractions against Tribolium castaneum and Rhizopertha dominica, respectively. Good cytotoxic activity (66.66 %) was shown by the n-hexane fraction of the plant at 1000 μg/ml. The rest of the fractions showed low lethality at higher doses. No antifungal activity was observed for the crude extract and fractions screened against various fungal strains. The plant crude extract and fractions showed a concentration dependent nitric oxide free radical scavenging activity.

Key words: Myrsine africana, insecticidal, brine shrimp lethality, antifungal and nitric oxide free radical scavenging assay.