Research Article: Acute toxicity of hydroalcohlic extracts of Heracleum persicum (Golpar) in zebrafish (Danio rerio Hamilton)

Heracleum persicum (HP) is an annual herbbelonging to Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family and traditionally cultivated in Iran for its medicinal properties. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of H. persicum extract has shown that it possesses antioxidant properties, which may be attributed that to the presence of furanocoumarin compounds. In an experiment involving Danio rerio were, six groups of fish were exposed to different concentration of HA-PA ranging from ۴۷۰ to ۵۰۰ mg distributed among six groups in triplicates included G۱ (control), G۲ (۱۰۰۰ mg/kg), G۳ (۲۰۰۰ mg/kg), G۴ (۴۰۰۰ mg/kg), G۵ (۸۰۰۰ mg/kg) and G۶ (۱۶۰۰۰ mg/kg). The probit value for HA-HP and associated concentrations indicated low toxicity in D. rerio. The LC۵۰ of HA-HP for D. rerio exposed to various concentrations for ۲۴ hrs was found to be ۶۰۲۰.۳۷ mg/kg with lower and upper bounds of ۴۴۷۷.۵ and ۸۱۱۷.۹, respectively at a ۹۵% confidence limit. The maximum value of buccal movement rate was observed in animals exposed to ۱۶۰۰۰ mg/kg of HA-HP measuring between ۱۳۴.۰-۱۹۲.۶۶ N/min. However, increased doses of HA-HP led to respiratory distress and a decrease in oxygen uptake in fish. Moribund fish were observed at ۱۰۰۰ and ۲۰۰۰ mg/kg with signs of darting swimming, circular movement, and settling on the bottom of the aquarium for up to ۱۲ hrs. The exposure of D. rerio to increasing concentration of HA-HP also resulted in the Loss of schooling behavior, which could affect their ability to move in coordination with their peers. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the LD۵۰ of HA-HP for D. rerio after ۲۴ hrs is high indicating it can be used safely as an immunostimulant or for other purposes in fish at lower dosages.

Keywords:

Zebrafish , Heracleum persicum , Lethal Dosage , Aquaculture