Acute Toxicity Level of Pulutan (Urena lobata) Leaf Extract on Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and its Analysis by In Silico Study

Abstract

Pulutan (Urena lobata) is one of medicinal plant used to treat some diseases traditionally and pre-clinical studies have showed its efficacy. However, the study about its safety has not been evaluated completely. An acute toxicity test has to be performed in order to screen for its safety. The objective of study to determine the acute toxicity level of Urena lobata (U. lobata) leaf extract on embryo phase, juvenile and adult of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the role of its active constituents through in silico methods. This was an experimental laboratory study using embryo, juvenile and adult of zebrafish (Danio rerio). The leaf of U. lobata was extracted by decoction methods and the extract was diluted from 12000 mg/L to 500 mg/L. The animals were exposed to the extracts for 96 hours. Toxicity level of herbs was defined using lethal concentration-50 (LC-50) obtained through linear regression. In silico study was performed using a web-based software application (iLAB ACD). The LC-50 values of U. lobata leaf extract for embryo, juvenile and adult of zebrafish (Danio rerio) were 2548 mg/L, 8748 mg/L and 8088 mg/L, respectively. Acute toxicity level of U. lobata on embryo is higher compared to juvenile and adult of zebrafish. After identification of active compound and in silico study was performed, Stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in U. lobata showed high toxicity level based on LD-50 value. Level toxicity of U. lobata on zebrafish embryo was moderate (0.5-5.0 g/L) and it shows teratogenic effect, meanwhile, its effects on juvenile and adult fish were considered mild (5.0-15.0 g/L).