Abstract
Palythoa caribaeorum is a zoanthid whose mucus is traditionally used by fishermen communities on the southern coast of the state of Pernambuco as an anesthetic and anti-inflammatory agent, as well as for the treatment of topical wounds. In order to evaluate a possible toxicity, hexane and ethanol extracts of the zoanthid obtained from the beaches of Piedade (PCP-H; PCP-E), Guadalupe (PCG-H; PCG-E), and Suape (PCS-H; PCS-E) were tested against Artemia salina larvae. Among the six extracts tested, PCP-H, PCP-E, PCS-H, and PCS-E showed low toxicity, with LC50 values above 250µg/mL. On the other hand, PCG-H (80 < LC50 < 250µg/mL) was categorized as moderately toxic, while PCG-E (LC50 < 80µg/mL) was considered as highly toxic, with its degree of toxicity close to that of the standard drug cyclophosphamide (LC50 = 19.7µg/mL). The results indicate the presence of toxic compounds in the zoanthid obtained from Guadalupe and they suggest caution in the use of P. caribaeorum as a folk remedy. The variations found in the extracts of the tested Pernambucan populations of P. caribaeorum corroborate previous reports that the toxic action of this zoanthid is not inherent to the species, but it is influenced by environmental conditions and associated organisms.
Highlights
The marine environment covers about 70% of the earth’s surface and it is one of the richest ecosystems in terms of biological diversity
According to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) (APPELTANS et al, 2010), roughly 230,000 marine species are known to science, the vast majority of which comprises benthic invertebrates
The Northeastern region has the longest extension of tropical coast in Brazil and marine animal-based remedies constitute the integral part of folk medicine in this region
Summary
The marine environment covers about 70% of the earth’s surface and it is one of the richest ecosystems in terms of biological diversity. According to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) (APPELTANS et al, 2010), roughly 230,000 marine species are known to science, the vast majority of which comprises benthic invertebrates These animals are continuously involved in a large number of ecological interactions and, they need to defend themselves from pathogens and predators, as well as to compete for space, light, and nutrients (HARPER et al, 2001). Natural marine products are part of the social, economic, and cultural activities of coastal communities in Brazil. Some of these products are employed by the food and cosmetic industries, besides folk medicine. Records on the use of marine organisms as medicinal resources date back to the 17th century (ALMEIDA, 2007)
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