Phytochemical Screening and Toxicity Testing of Bilang (Sesuvium portulacastrum Linn (1753)) Plant Extract

Abstract

Sesuvium portulacastrum Linn (1753), a member of the family Aizoaceae, is a multipurpose facultative halophyte. The extract from S. portulacastrum was subjected to phytochemical and toxicity screening. Allium cepa Chromosome Aberration Assay was conducted to assess the plant’s toxicity, while a phytochemical screening was conducted to determine the presence of bioactive secondary metabolites. Allium cepa Chromosome Aberration Assay showed that the plant extract possesses genotoxic activity as demonstrated by bridges, fragments, laggards, and vagrants. It also showed that the plant extract was able to inhibit root growth. The plant extract showed an inhibitory effect; at 100% concentration, and was able to inhibit 100% with the highest number of aberrations and had the least number of dividing cells. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of the constituents of the plant extract, and tested positive for reducing sugar, saponin, alkaloid, resin, and tannin. These phytochemical constituents indicate the potential of S. portulacastrum extracts in the pharmaceutical industry.