Evaluation of the bioactive potential of Licuala peltata Leaves: Antioxidant, Cytotoxic and Thrombolytic Activities

The powdered leaves of Licuala peltata were extracted with methanol, and the concentrated extract was then fractionated using petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform (CHCl3), and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The crude methanolic extract and its fractions were found to possess antioxidant, cytotoxic, and thrombolytic effects. In evaluation of antioxidant activity, the methanolic crude extract (IC₅₀ of 19.22 µg/ml) and petroleum ether fraction (IC₅₀ of 9.022 µg/ml) showed significant free radical scavenging activity compared to standard Ascorbic Acid (IC₅₀ of 4.918 µg/ml). Regarding the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, methanolic crude extract (LC50 of 13.03 µg/ml) and its different solvent-soluble fractions like petroleum ether, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform exhibited cytotoxic activities with the LC50 values of 4.452 µg/ml, 15.114 µg/ml, 7.08 µg/ml respectively compared to the Vincristine Sulphate (LC50 of 0.5316 µg/ml). For the thrombolytic activity, the chloroform soluble fraction exhibited the highest clot lysis activity of 12.536% and the petroleum ether soluble fraction showed moderate activity of 10.707%, compared to the standard thrombolytic agent streptokinase which exhibited high activity of 68.180%. This study demonstrates the medicinal potentials of Licuala peltata to be used as antioxidant and a potential candidate for thrombolytic, cytotoxic agent.