In Vitro Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity and Elemental Composition of Alchornea cordifolia Leaf Extracts

The maximum therapeutic and minimum side effects of herbal remedies have been verified in numerous scientific investigations. Although, isolated or synthesized active compounds can become toxic in relatively small doses; it usually takes a much greater amount of a whole herb, with all of its components, to reach a toxic level. The study was aimed to determine the toxicity level and elemental analysis of Alchornea cordifolia leaf extracts collected in Niger State. Phytochemical screening of the Alchornea cordifolia leaf extracts was carried out using standard methods. Agar well diffusion and agar dilution methods were employed to determine the zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration. The elemental analysis of the Alchornea cordifolia leaf as well as the toxicity level using brine shrimp were determined using standard protocol. The phytochemical screening of the leaf extracts revealed the presence of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides. The LD50 values for ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts were 456.1µg/ml and 433.8µg/ml respectively which indicate that the extracts were medium toxic. Elemental analyses of Alchonea cordifolia leaf constituents show that lead, cobalt and manganese were within permissible limit given by WHO while chromium, Zinc, copper, iron, cadmium and Nickel were above World health organization’s permissible limit. The findings of this study suggest that Alchornea cordifolia leaf could be employed as potential therapeutic candidate with medium toxicity for the treatment of uropathogenic infections.