Assessment of potential cytotoxic, molluscicidal and allelopathic of Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth hydroethanolic leaves extracts

Abstract

Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth. known as barbatimão de folha miúda, is a typical tree of the Midwest and Southeast “Cerrado” regions of Brazil. Several secondary metabolites have been identified in its barks, including tannins, described on the literature as allelochemicals. Beholding to identify a possible allelopathic activity in S. obovatum leaves, we tested hydroethanolic EtOH:H2O (70% and 50% v/v) extracts, in different concentrations, on the initial development of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Among the results, we highlight the effect of the 50% hydroethanolic extract in inhibiting the formation of the main and the secondary roots and the stimulation of the hypocotyl growth in C. sativus by the 70% hydroethanolic extract, both in all concentrations tested. The cytotoxic activity, evaluated by bioassay toxicity on Artemia salina Leach., was negative for the tested extracts (LC50> 1000 mg.mL-1). Concomitantly, the molluscicidal activity, evaluated against snails of Biomphalaria glabrata Say, presented low acute toxicity of solutions of 70% hydroethanolic extract at concentrations of 128.9 mg.mL-1 and 172.8 mg.mL-1 and values above 250 mg.mL-1 to solutions of 50% hydroalcoholic extract, being therefore considered inactive for these. The results suggest the existence of allelochemicals in the extracts tested and they have low toxicity.