Abstract
The aim of this research is to observe the cytotoxic activities of methanolic crude extracts of Ocimum sanctum (Family: Lamiaceae). The leaves of Ocimum sanctum was extracted with organic solvent (methanol) and the extracts were fractionated by using solvent-solvent partition. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and chloroform soluble fractions of methanolic crude extract of Ocimum sanctum were screened for cytotoxic activity using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. A reputed cytotoxic agent, vincristine sulphate was used as a positive control. From the results of the brine shrimp lethality bioassay it was well predicted that n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and chloroform soluble fractions of methanolic crude extracts possess cytotoxic principles (LC50 4.36 mg/mL, LC50 5.37 mg/mL and LC50 10.00 mg/mL respectively) comparison with positive control, vincristine sulphate (LC50 0.563 mg/mL).