Aims:

To carry out the qualitative phytochemical study to determine the antioxidant activity and toxicity on Artemia salina of the extracts of the leaves of Justicia secunda Vahl, collected in Mérida, Venezuela.

Methodology:

Phytochemical screening of extracts from the aerial parts of Justicia secunda Vahl. (Acanthaceae) was carried out through specific chemical tests that allowed the presence of sterols in the hexanoic extract to be determined; sterols and phenolic compounds in the dichloromethane and alkaloids, sterols and phenolic compounds in the ethanolic extract. The antioxidant activity of extracts from the aerial parts of J. secunda was evaluated by using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging method, using spectrophotometry UV-Visible at a wavelength of 517 nm, with ascorbic acid as control (176 μg/mL).

Results:

The dichloromethane and ethanolic extracts showed anti-oxidant activity, with an inhibition percentage higher than 50 to 4 mg/mL and at a concentration of 0.75 mg / mL, percentage of 27.7 and 53.0; IC50 of 1.85 mg/mL and 0.69 mg/mL, respectively. Regarding toxicity on A. salina, the ethanolic extract showed an LD50 between 919.32 and 3781.9 ppm, it was relatively harmless, according to the CYTED classification.

Conclusion:

Overall, the results obtained suggest that the extracts of the aerial parts of J. secunda Vahl, could be an alternative for future drug formulation since it has potent antioxidant activity and low toxicity.