Assessment of Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Activities of Ethanolic Extracts of Kalanchoe Pinnata Linn. (family: Crassulaceae) Leaves and Stems

Objective: In the present work, the leaves and stems of Kalanchoe pinnata Linn. (Family: Crassulaceae) have been investigated for screening phytochemicals, cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities. Materials and methods: Brine shrimp lethality (BSL) bioassay was used as a pre-screening method for cytotoxic effect. Ethanolic extract of the plant was tested by using this method. The agar disc diffusion method was used for antimicrobial assay of the plant extract. Results: The crude extract produced the most significant cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp Artemia salina (LC50: 100μg/mL and LC90: 204.17μg/mL). The ethanolic extract of Kalanchoe pinnata Linn. showed significant antibacterial activity against gram positive (B. Subtilis, S. aureus) and gram negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. dysenteriae) bacteria with the zones of inhibition ranging from 6.0±0.35 to 8.2±0.22 mm. The phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extracts of Kalanchoe pinnata Linn. showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, gums, flavonoids, saponins, reducing sugars and tannins. Conclusion: The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine. The plant studied can be a potential source of biologically active compounds as antitumor agent, antibacterial and pesticide. INTRODUCTION: Kalanchoe pinnata Linn. (Family: Crassulaceae) is commonly known as patharkuchi. It is a tall, erect perennial glabrous herb with woody stem and thick, succulent leaves having crenate margins, often with foliar buds and adventitious roots, grown in gardens all over the country . The plant contains bersaldegenin-1, 3, 5-orthoacetate 2 and bufadienolidebryophyllin-B . Other chemical constituents from the plants bryophyllol, bryophyllone, bryophyllenone, bryophynol are also isolated . The leaves and bark are bitter tonic, astringent to bowels, analgesics, carminative and useful in diarrhoea and vomiting. Antiulcer 5 activities of the leaf were also reported. Several other biological activities have been reported for Kalanchoe pinnata Linn. The plant has hepatoprotective activity and is also used to increase vascular integrity , to treat hypertension and kidney stones and to enhance the dropping of umbilical cord of a newly born baby . The leaves of the plant are eaten to control diabetes. They are diuretic, and applied to wounds, boils and bites of insects. Correspondence to Author: Subrata Kumar Biswas (Euro MSc in International Health), Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy (BGC Biddyanagar), BGC Trust University Bangladesh, BGC Tower (Fazal Tower), 1675, O.R. Nizam Road, Chittagong, Bangladesh