Embryotoxicity and Teratogenic Effect of Chloroform Extract of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (Lam.) de Wit Leaf on Zebra fish (Danio Rerio)

Abstract

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit is a plant widely distributed in India and other Tropical countries widely as a source of nutrition to cattle and Humans. Literature review indicates varied medicinal property of L. leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit plant. However before further exploring its therapeutic potential, evaluation of in vitro embryotoxicity and teratogenic effect of the leaf extract of this plant are required to be performed in zebrafish model. The current study aimed to assess the toxicity of chloroform extract of L. leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit on Zebrafish (Danio Rerio). Successive soxhlation was carried out for extraction with solvent having variable polarity. Embryotoxicity and teratogenicity are studied by exposing twenty completely fertilized embryos to the extracts with varying concentrations. The zebrafish embryos were exposed to varying plant extract concentrations in a 0.1\% DMSO solution, used as control. Toxicity, teratogenicity and some deformities in embryos was observed at a concentration of 600 mu g/ml. Mortality was observed at higher concentration, whereas reduced hatching rate was observed with increasing concentration. Different physical deformities like kink tail, bent trunk, and enlarged yolk sac edema were attributed to the teratogenic effect of the extract observed at higher concentrations. Finally, LC50 value was determined to be significant with a p value < 0.0001. Teratogenic Index based on development of deformities was also significant (p value<0.0001) and claimed the nonteratogenic effect of the extract. The study divulges that plants with therapeutic efficacy could also develop some side effects when consumed at higher doses specially on the embryos. Detailed toxicity study should be carried out on medicinal plants to identify their safety and teratogenic effect on the embryos.