Abstract:
Flueggea leucopyrus (Willd.), commonly known as Katupila in Sinhala belongs to
the family Euphorbiaceae. The leaves, stem and roots of the plant have been used as
complementary and alternative medicine for many health problems including cancer.
** This study was carried out to determine the total phenolic content of the aqueous and
methanolic extracts of leaves and bark of F. leucopyrus (Willd) and to investigate the
cytotoxicity of those extracts towards normal cells. Methanolic extracts of the leaves and
bark were prepared using maceration process and the aqueous extracts of the plant were
prepared by soxhlet extraction method. Cytotoxity was investigated by carrying out Brine
shrimp (Artemia salina) assay. The LC50 values were obtained using graphical methods.
It showed that LC50 values for aqueous extract of bark and leaves were 40 0 .6 pg/mL
and 20 58.3 pg/mL respectively and LCso values for the methanolic extract of leaves and
bark were 2 7 79 .6 pg/mL and 856 7 .3 pg/mL respectively. The total phenolic contents
were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu reducing capacity and expressed as mg/g gallic acid
equivalent using the standard curve equation (y = 0 .0 13 5X + 0 .0 2 9 , R2 = 0 .9 9 7 9 ). The
total phenolic contents of methanoilc extract of leaves and aqueous extract of leaves were
38.5±o.3 and 34.9±o.5 respectively and aqueous extracts of bark and methanolic extract
of bark were 29.9±o.i mg/g and i.4±o.i respectively in gallic acid equivalents. As this
investigation showed LCS0 > 3 0 pg/mL, the leaves and bark extracts of F. leucopyrus
(Willd.) do not possess any cytotoxic properties against normal cells. Many medicinal
properties including anti-cancer properties of F. leucopyrus (Willd.) could be attributed
to the presence of significant amount of Phenolic compounds in the plant.
