Phytochemical and Safety Evaluations of Zingiber ottensii Valeton Essential Oil in Zebrafish Embryos and Rats.

Wisit Thitinarongwate,Raktham Mektrirat,Puongtip Kunanusorn,Wutigri Nimlamool,Siriporn Okonogi,Parirat Khonsung,Surachai Pikulkaew

doi:10.3390/toxics9050102

Abstract

Zingiber ottensii Valeton (ZO) exhibits pharmacological activity and has long been used in traditional medicine. However, reports about its safety profiles are limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile and the toxic effects of ZO essential oil on the development of zebrafish and acute oral toxicity in rats. The essential oil was isolated from ZO rhizomes, and phytochemicals were analyzed using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometer (GC–MS). The embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of ZO essential oil were evaluated in zebrafish embryos and larvae and the acute oral toxicity was determined in rats. GC–MS results showed the essential oil contained zerumbone as a major phytoconstituent (24.73%). The zebrafish embryotoxicity of ZO essential oil appeared to be concentration- and time-dependent manner, with a moderate LC50 (1.003 µg/mL). Teratogenicity in zebrafish embryos also included morphological defects, decreased hatchability, and reduced heart rate. In rats, ZO essential oil (2000 mg/kg, p.o.) resulted in no mortality or significant toxicities. These findings suggest that ZO has embryotoxic and teratogenic effects in zebrafish embryos but does not result in death or acute oral toxicity in rats. Further long-term toxicity studies are needed to confirm the safety of products developed from ZO essential oil.

Highlights

Various plants have been shown to possess significant pharmacological activity and to provide many health benefits, both in preclinical studies and in clinical studies in humans [1,2,3]
The results showed no teratogenic abnormalities in the control group of zebrafish embryos showed no teratogenic abnormalities in the control group of zebrafish embryos or in the or in the group treated with 0.24 μg/mL of Zingiber ottensii (ZO) essential oil (Figure 4E,F)
The abnormalities increased noticeably with prolonged exposure to ZO essential oil for 24–120 hpf (Table 2). These findings suggest that the accessibility of the ZO essential oil introduced into the animal’s body increases with the duration of exposure and eventually leads to embryotoxicity

Summary

Introduction

Various plants have been shown to possess significant pharmacological activity and to provide many health benefits, both in preclinical studies (in vitro and in vivo models) and in clinical studies in humans [1,2,3]. Medicinal plants have been used as alternative treatments to cure illness in Ayurvedic and Thai traditional medicine. The toxicological profiles of most medicinal plants have not been completely determined. Many plant-derived treatments may result in harmful effects in humans, including carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects [4,5]. Toxicity testing in a diverse range of in vitro studies using animal models is crucial and includes experimental screening methods for determining the safety profile of medicinal plants. Acute oral toxicity test in rodents is widely used to evaluate acute toxicity of a drug or an herb. These tests can include evaluation of the LD50 of the tested substance

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion