Effect of wild cape gooseberry (Physalis minima Linn.) on zebra fish (Danio rerio) embryo

Abstract

The effect of crude extract of wild cape gooseberry, P. minima Linn. on zebra fish, D. rerio, embryo was investigated. Five concentrations (0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, 10% and 20%) of an aqueous crude extract of the plant leaf was prepared and tested with newly spawned embryos in 96 well plates. The observation effect was based on the toxicity endpoint composed of lethal effects, sublethal effects and malformation effects appearing within 144 hours postfertilization (hpf). The results suggested that the lowest observed effect concentrations (LOEC) for a lethal effect and a sublethal effect were 20% and 10% respectively. Not fully developed pigmentation of the embryo and bradycardia were the sublethal effects found in this study at 10% and 20% concentrations. There was no observable malformation effect in any of the test concentration. The no observed effect concentrations (NOEC) for a lethal effect and a sublethal effect were 10%, and 1% respectively.