Protective activity of ellagic acid in counteract oxidative stress damage in zebrafish embryonic development

During its development, embryo is easily susceptible to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Evidence demonstrate protective role of the antioxidants, improving both cellular growth and embryonic development. Among these, ellagic acid (EA) is a natural antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogen properties. The aim of this work was to assess in vitro the protective and anti-genotoxic role of EA during Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryonic development. For the study, zebrafish embryos were treated with H₂O₂ (15 μM, 30 μM and 45 μM) to simulate an oxidative damage, and with EA (2.5 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM) for 8, 20, 24, 48, 96 hpf (hours post fertilization). Vitality rate, alterations in the morphology and behavior of the larvae and the genomic stability were analyzed. The exposure to H₂O₂ caused genotoxicity for all exposure times. The incubation in 45 μM H₂O₂ and 30 μM H₂O₂ resulted in increased mortality rate of the larvae, as well as 10 mM EA. The co-exposure was performed using to 15 μM H₂O₂ and 2.5 mM and 5 mM EA and it demonstrated the EA capacity to protect the embryo DNA and development from the oxidative insult. Particularly, the co-exposure to 15 mM H₂O₂ and 5 mM EA showed an increase in the embryo survival rate and absence of alterations in morphology and behavior at 96 hpf. Interestingly, we observed a higher genomic stability at 8h and 20h co-exposure (15 mM H₂O₂ and 5 mM EA) time. The decline observed in ROS concentration for both exposure times confirmed the observation. In conclusion, EA protects the zebrafish embryonic development from DNA oxidative damage increasing the embryo survival rate and improving morphological parameters of the larvae.