Studies on cytotoxic, phytotoxic and volatile profile of the bark extract of the medicinal plant, Mallotus tetracoccus (Roxb.) Kurz.

This study was aimed at analysing the compounds present in the bark extract of Mallotus tetracoccus  (Roxb.) Kurz. by GC-MS analysis and also to investigate the cytotoxic and phytotoxic activity of  Mallotus tetracoccus (Roxb.) Kurz. bark extract. The major constituents in M. tetracoccus (Roxb.) Kurz. bark extract are thiocyanic acid and 2-propynyl ester (52.04%). It possesses biocidal, antioxidative, antimutagenic and anticancer activity. The cytotoxic activity of bark extract was evaluated by brine shrimp lethality bioassay method and the LC 50 value was found to be 84.72 μg/ml compared to taxol 0.85 μg/ml. Phytotoxicity assay showed significant root length inhibition by the extract at the concentrations of 100, 1000 and 10000 ppm. Similarly, seed germination studies shows that the bark extract possess significant inhibition at concentrations of 1000 and 7500 ppm. Keywords: Mallotus tetracoccus, GC-MS analysis, thiocyanic acid, furfural, 4H- Pyran-4 -one, 2, 3- Dihydro-3, 5- dihydroxy-6- methyl, cytotoxicity, phytotoxicity, radish seed, artemia salina.