Abstract

The cytotoxicity of the crude methanolic extracts of Rumex hastatus, Rumex dentatus, Rumex nepalensis, Rheum australe, Polygonum persicaria and Polygonum plebejum (Family Polygonaceae) was determined against Artemia salina at 1000, 100 and 10 mg/ml. R. hastatus, R. dentatus and R. nepalensisshowed significant activity at a concentration of 1000 mg/ml against Artemia salina.R. australe showed low activity at 1000 mg/ml and no activity at 100 and 10 mg/ml. At concentration of 10 mg/ml, R. australe showed no activity. Similarly the phytotoxicity of the crude extracts of these six plants was determined against Lemna minor. All the plants except R. hastatus showed significant activity at a concentration of 1000mg/ml. Moderate activity was shown by R. australe, R. nepalensis and P. persicariaat the concentration of 100 mg/ml. All the plants showed low phytotoxic activity at concentration of 10 mg/ml.

Key words: Rumex hastatus, Rumex dentatus, Rumex nepalensis, Rheum australe, Polygonum persicaria, Polygonum plebejum, Artemia salina, Lemna minor, cytotoxicity, phytotoxicity.