Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Toxicity Test of Leaf and Root Parts of the Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Abstract

Objective: To examine the toxicity level of Sansevieria trifasciata (Asparagaceae) leaves and roots extracts. Methods: The antimicrobial activity was tested against alkaloid, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones screening by two different methods, the brine shrimp toxicity test and ten-fold serial dilution of the powdered plant material in artificial seawater. Results: The results showed the presence of cytotoxic principles making it effective therapeutic remedy for treating various infections as it possesses effective of its zone of inhibition (lowest concentration of 35.22 μg/ml to the highest concentration of 44.49 μg/ml) using brine shrimp bioassy of Sansevieria trifasciata roots and leaves extracts. Conclusion: Thus, the toxic potential of the plant extracts yields greater than the recommended LC50 value and reveals positive linear relationship between the concentrations of the extract to the mortality rate using nauplii. The more concentrated the treatment the higher mortality had resulted.