Cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of ethanolic extract of Leea indica leaves

ABSTRACT

Leea indica [Burm. f.] Merr. [Family Leeaceae], a widely available evergreen shrub is traditionally used for different diseases in rural areas of Bangladesh. The ethanolic extract of leaves was investigated for its possible cytotoxic and antibacterial activities. Cytotoxic activity was tested using brine shrimp lethality bioassay and antibacterial activity was investigated by disc diffusion assay with selected bacterial strains. The extract displayed considerable cytotoxicity towards brine shrimps, the LC50 being 15.52 microg/ml. In antibacterial test, it showed substantial inhibition against the tested bacterial strains. The zones of inhibition were in the range between 8 mm and 14 mm at the doses of 400 microg/disc and 600 microg/disc. The results demonstrate that the ethanolic extract of the leaves possesses cytotoxic activity as well as antibacterial activity that justify the traditional uses of the plant