TOXICITY EVALUATION OF ALKALOIDS FROM Calotropis procera LEAVES USING Drosophila melanogaster
Calotropis procera is a xerophytic perennial shrub native to tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and common in the Middle East, belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae. Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring organic compounds that mostly contain nitrogen atoms in a heterocyclic ring produced by a large variety of organisms. The study aims to evaluate the toxicity of alkaloids extracted from the leaves of Calotropis procera plant. The maceration extraction method was employed to extract alkaloid compounds from the leaves of the plant and phytochemical screening was conducted to confirm that the extract contains alkaloids. Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) of 3-4 days old were used for toxicity studies of the alkaloid extract and the result showed that at concentrations of 62.5 mg – 250 mg, 100 % mortality occurred while at concentrations of 1.25 mg – 5 mg with sub-acute toxicity, and 12.5 mg, 25 mg and the control group with low percentage mortality. In conclusion, alkaloids from Calotropis procera leaves were found to be toxic to D. melanogaster.
Keywords: Alkaloids, Calotropis procera, Drosophila melanogaster, maceration, toxicity
*Correspondence: kbdauda3010@gmail.com, 08064301091
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