Toxicity and teratogenicity evaluation of hydroethanolic extract of momordica charantia fruit using zebrafish (DANIO RERIO) embryos model

 The use of zebrafish vertebrate model in vivo analysis of the drug toxicity and efficacy, chemical toxicity, and safety is increasing in recent researches. Momordica charantia Linn (Cucurbitaceae) has been traditionally claimed for its many protective roles. However, the development of toxicity effect may cause morphological abnormalities by using an embryo of zebrafish (Danio Rerio) is unknown. Hence, this study was designed to determine the toxicity and teratogenic effect of hydroethanolic extract of M. charantia fruit using Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) embryos. The crude extract was prepared from the fruit of M. charantia using 80% hydroethanolic solvent. The zebrafish embryos were exposed to serial dilution of crude extract. The active constituent was analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) Momordica charantia Linn (Cucurbitaceae) has been widely commercialized based on traditional usage as an antidiabetic product. The current study has shown the toxic effects of the M.  charantia fruit extract on the developing zebrafish embryos, and the median lethal concentration (LC50) was calculated to be 725.90 mg/L at 48 hpt. The observed effects are dependent on the time of exposure and concentrations of the extract. At higher concentration, the extract causes some morphological defects such as less pigmentation, dented tail, spinal curvature, oedema, reduced hatchability, and growth retardation, that indicates the presence of toxicant(s). Based on the GC-MS profiling, some of the compounds identified in the hydroethanolic extract, such as propanedioic acid and glutamine, may have caused the teratogenic effects to the embryos. Further research on the M. charantia fruit's metabolites should be carried out prior to any nutraceutical or pharmaceutical application.</jats:p

Toxicity study on clinacanthus nutans leaf extract using danio rerio embryos

Plants are believed to have various medicinal benefits from their constituents, but they might also give toxic effects to the human's body. Clinacanthus nutans that belongs to Acanthaceae family, which has been reported to have an antidiabetic and antioxidant effect. The study has been done to determine the toxic level and the lethal concentration of non-polar extract of C. nutans leaves using zebrafish embryos. Crude extract of 80% methanolic solution was further partitioned to obtain the n-hexane fraction. Upon spawning and fertilization, the eggs were collected, transferred into a 96-well plate, and incubated with the n-hexane fraction at different concentrations ranging from 15.63-500 µg/ml prepared in 2% DMSO. The median lethal concentration (LC50) was calculated to be 75.49 µg/mL using probit analysis. The reading is considered toxic to the embryos. The heartbeat rate was measured using DanioScope software, and the mortality and survival rate were assessed by microscopic observation at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours post-fertilization. Some of the morphological defects observed include less pigmentation, crooked backbone, dented tail, and oedema. The n-hexane fraction's profiling using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis showed the presence of some fatty acids, organic acid, and sterols, which is known to be toxic in synergism.</jats:p

Alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity of christia vespertilionis leaves extracts: virtual screening

Christia vespertilionis is a medicinal plant belonging to the Fabaceae family and traditionally consumed to manage diabetes. The present study aimed to screen the antidiabetic property by evaluating the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of multiple C. vespertilionis leaves extracts. C. vespertilionis leaves extracts were prepared using ethyl acetate, ethyl acetate: hexane, ethyl acetate: methanol, methanol, and hexane solvents and screened via α-glucosidase inhibitory assay, using quercetin as the positive control. Potential compounds present in the plant leaves that were reported previously were subjected to molecular docking simulation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae isomaltase (PDB code: 3A4A). The leaves extracts showed the IC50 values of α-glucosidase ranging from 0.195 mg/mL to 0.416mg/mL with ethyl acetate:hexane extract exhibiting highest inhibitory activity with the lowest  IC50 value of 0.195 ± 0.004 mg/mL. Some of the compounds reported in previous studies such as quercetin 3-0-glucoside, oleanolic acid methyl ester, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, geraniol and 2’-hydroxygenistein have shown potential binding energy level during interaction with the protein involving residues such as GLN279, GLN 353, THR306, ASP352 and ASN350 with hydrogen bond, while PHE303 and GLH277 with hydrophobic contact. The results have suggested that C. vespertilionis leaves has the potential to manage the hyperglycemia via α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and further study to identify potential inhibitors may enhance its use in pharmaceutical application.</jats:p

The screening of antioxidant activities and FTIR analysis of Christia Vespertilionis leaves extracts

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) or free radicals may be harmful to our body as it can cause many health problems. Antioxidants can act as radical scavengers to prevent these mechanisms. Christia vespertilionis or butterfly wings is widely found in South East Asia, traditionally used for many medical benefits. There are limited data that can be found about this plant from all possible scientific sources. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze multiple C. vespertilionis leaves extracts for its antioxidants’ capacity and infrared analysis. Five different extracts of different solvents viz, hexane, hexane: ethyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl acetate: methanol, and methanol were obtained from C. vespertilionis leaves. All the extracts were assessed for 2, 2-diphenyl-1-pierylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) followed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of ethyl acetate: methanol showed high radical scavenging activity with the lowest IC50 value of 0.549 ± 0.02 mg/mL compared to other extracts while ethyl acetate: hexane has the highest FRAP value of 271.67 ± 0.93 AAE µg ascorbic acid/g. The rapid FTIR analysis revealed the present of O-H, C-H, C=O, C=C, C-O, and N-H predominantly in the extracts. This study provides the information for further application of C. vespertilionis on various pharmacological and phytochemical aspects as not many scientific studies can be found.</jats:p