ESTIMATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES AND TOXICITY TO ARTEMIA SALINA L. OF SELECTED PLANTS OF FAMILY COMBRETACEAE: AN APPROACH FOR SCREENING OF HERBAL PREVENTIVE AGENTS

Objective: Combretaceae, a large family, includes more valuable species that are used against many diseases and disorders along with cancer therapy. Cancer is a very common lethal disease throughout the world. Keeping this in view, two species are Combretum roxburghii Spreng and Terminalia catappa L. selected for present studies to provide baseline data for future formulation. Methods: Phytochemicals were detected in different extracts of experimental plants. The cytotoxicity was tested using a Brine shrimp assay. The presence of both total phenol and total tannin content was estimated by standard spectrophotometric methods. Results: Terminalia catappa L. showed the presence of a number of natural bioactive compounds than Combretum roxburghii Spreng. The lethality test indicated maximum in Combretum roxburghii Spreng. (leaf) in methanol extract and Terminalia catappa L. in acetone extract (leaf). The highest concentration of total phenol and tannin content was observed in Combretum roxburghii Spreng. Conclusion: Phytochemical test, cytotoxicity test, total phenol & tannin content indicated the pharmacological potential and preventive characters against cancer and formulation of future drugs.