BIOACTIVITY GUIDED CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF CLITORIA TERNATEA UTILIZING BRINE SHRIMP LETHA LITY BIOASSAY

The crude methanol extract of leaves, seeds and stem-bark of Clitoria ternatea demonstrated a significant cytotoxic activity in a brine shrimp lethality bioassay test. The LC50 values of the crude methanol extract of leaves, seeds and stem-bark were found to be 25.82, 110.92, 179.89 jlgmlml respectively Among them crude methanol extract of leaves (25.82 jlgmlml) and methanol fraction of leaves (22.28 jlgmlml) showed a very promising cytotoxic activity Further studies have been suggested to discover a novel bioactive compound from methanol fraction of leaves of Clitoria ternatea. (Bangladesh J Physiol Pharmacol 2006; 22(1/2) : 18-21