Antileishmanial, insecticidal and phytotoxic potential of leaves and stems of Rumex nervosus Vahl.

ABSTRACT

Biological assays including; phytotoxicity, brine shrimp lethality, antileishmanial and insecticidal activities were carried out on crude methanolic extracts of stems and leaves of R. nervosus and their fraction namely; n-Hexane, CHCl3, EtOAc, and MeOH fractions. The highest significant phytotoxicty activity showed by chloroform, n-hexane fractions and crude extract of leaves, the growth regulation were [95%, 90% and 90%] respectively against Lemna minor, while ethyl acetate fraction and n-hexane fractions of stems displayed significant phytotoxicty [100% and 90%] respectively against Lemna minor at high dose [1000 micro g/ml]. The results obtained from cytotoxicity assays revealed that none of the fractions are cytotoxic. The chloroform fraction of stems was showed good antileishmanial activity against L. major with LC50+/-S.D 70.3+/-1.2 at micro g/ml. The crude methanolic extracts of leaves, chloroform fraction and ethyl acetate fraction exhibited low mortality against tested insect Rhyzopertha dominica while, the rest of extracts were found almost inactive against insects species