Bioactive Potential of Cicer arietinum L. Extracts Evaluated by Cytotoxicity, Larvicidal and Piscicidal Activity under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

Extracts of chickpea Cicer arietinum L. with petroleum ether (PE), CHCl₃, and CH₃OH were tested for cytotoxicity against brine shrimp Artemia salina L. nauplii, larvicidal activity against mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus Say larvae, and piscicidal activity against guppy Poecilia reticulata Peters. All chickpea extracts exhibited cytotoxicity, with the CHCl₃ extract proving the most effective at a minimum LC₅₀ of 7.27 ppm, followed by the CH₃OH and PE extract, with LC₅₀s of 22.05 and 27.33 ppm, respectively, after 48 h of exposure. Against mosquito larvae, the PE extract showed the highest larvicidal activity with an LC₅₀ value of 38.59 ppm at 48 h, while the CH₃OH and CHCl₃ extracts gave LC₅₀ values ​​of 66.01 and 72.22 ppm after 48 h of exposure. Against guppies, only the CHCl₃ and CH₃OH extracts of the tested plant showed favorable piscicidal activity. The CHCl₃ extract proved more active, with an LC₅₀ of 5.35 ppm, compared to 23.91 ppm for the CH₃OH extract, after 48 h of exposure. The PE extract showed no lethality to the fish studied. Based on the intensity of sensitivity of the three test organisms to the chickpea extracts, the tested agents could be ranked in descending order of effectiveness as follows: P. reticulata (CHCl₃; LC₅₀ = 5.35 ppm) > A. salina nauplii (CHCl₃; LC₅₀ = 7.27 ppm) > C. quinquefasciatus larvae (PE; LC₅₀ = 38.59 ppm).

J. Bio-Sci. 33(2): 57-66, 2025