Abstract

The methanolic extract from the aerial parts of Tylophora hirsuta was screened for various in vitro biological activities including antileishmanial, insecticidal, phytotoxicity, antibacterial and antifungal. General toxicity (brine shrimp lethality assay) of the methanolic extract was also performed. The extract was found to have significant antileishmanial activity against Leishmania major; reasonable insecticidal activity against L. minor L., low and non-significant antibacterial activity against Shigella flexenari and Bacillus substilis, respectively, and moderate antifungal activity against Fusarium solani. No significant general toxicity was observed with the extract at the tested concentrations.

Key words: Tylophora hirsuta Wall, biological activities, phytotoxicity, antileishmanial, insecticidal, IC₅₀ values, α-amyrin acetate.