Toxicity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of Cissus sicyoides

Cissus sicyoides L. (cipó-anil, vegetal insulin) belongs to the family Vitacea. It is much used by the population for the treatment of diabetes. The objective of this research was to perform a phytochemical screening of the hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of C. sicyoides to be used as primary source in the toxicological test with Artemia salina L. Were be phytochemical tests on the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of C. sicyoides for research on secondary metabolites and was evaluated the toxicological activity using A. saline cysts to quantify the mean lethal concentration (CL50). The extract presented steroids, tannins, flavonoids and saponins, compounds that had already been found in other studies of this species. It presented high toxicity to A. salina, reporting a Mean Lethal Concentration (CL50) of 930.7 g mL-1, serving as a parameter for the accomplishment of later studies in animal models with the pretension to reach more results for a safe use of C. sicyoides.