In vitro antihemolytic and phytochemical evaluation of leaf extract and fractions of Phyllanthus niruri

Phyllanthus niruri, locally called Nyebbe colli in Fulfulde and Geron tsuntsu in Hausa. Hemolysis is a major mechanism that malarial infection uses in causing anemia.  This study evaluated phytochemicals, in vitro antihemolytic activities of methanol extract and fractions of Phyllanthus niruri leaf. The fractionation of the extract was carried out successively using solvent-solvent partitioning in a separating funnel. The leaf was extracted with methanol. The in vitro Hemolytic assay of methanol extract and fraction of P. niruri leaf was performed by spectroscopic method. Methanol extract gave a yield of 19.820 g. The quantitative phytochemical content of total phenol and flavonoids in the methanol extract were 24.05 mg/100 g and 13.81 mg/100 g respectively. Aqueous fraction gave the lowest total phenol (2.03 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (1.04 mg/100 g) content as compared with other fractions. Qualitative phytochemical content of P. niruri shows that Alkaloids, Anthraquinones, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, steroids and Tannins were all present in the extract and different fractions.  Hemolytic assay shows that, ethyl acetate had the lowest IC50 value of 5.49 mg/mL and aqueous fraction had the highest IC50 value of 43.76 mg/mL.  This study shows that, methanol extract and fractions of P. niruri leaf shows high potency of antihemolytic properties that can be used treating several diseases.