Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Terminalia avicennioides plant extract, using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) on Drosophila melanogaster Flies

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to identify and quantify the bioactive compounds present in Terminalia avicennioides extracts and assess their biological activity using a combination of phytochemical screening, characterization techniques (FT-IR) and cytotoxicity evaluation. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids, and phenols, which are known for their medicinal properties. Spectroscopic analysis of the extract carried out using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) indicated the presence of O-H stretching vibration (3224.46 cm^-1), an sp³ C-H stretching vibration of Alkanes (2923.56 cm^-1), C=O stretching vibration of carbonyl group (1709.26 cm^-1), and C-O stretching vibration of an ester. (1175.84 cm^-1). The cytotoxicity tests of the extract were evaluated at different concentrations of the extract (50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml, 250 mg/ml, 500 mg/ml) using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) and tested on Drosophila melanogaster, a decreased mortality rate was observed when the concentration of the extract was increased, the negative geotactic response in Drosophila decreased with increase in the concentration of the extract, indicating a dose-dependent reduction in motor coordination or neurological function, while a non-linear relationship was observed for the enclosure emergence. The results demonstrated significant bioactivity that suggests potential therapeutic applications. The findings of the study validate the traditional use of Terminalia avicennioides in herbal medicine and highlight its potential as a source of new natural products for pharmaceutical development.