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Essential Oils Produce Developmental Toxicity in Zebrafish Embryos and Cause Behavior Changes in Zebrafish Larvae.

Ivanildo Inacio da Silva1,2, Niely Priscila Correia da Silva1, James A Marrs2

  • 1Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal (DMFA), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Av. Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, PE, Brazil.

Biomedicines
|October 28, 2023
PubMed
Summary

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Biomedicines·2024

Essential oils from lemongrass, thyme, and oregano show toxicity in zebrafish embryos and larvae, causing developmental defects and behavioral changes. Careful use is advised, especially during pregnancy.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Essential oils are increasingly popular for their biological properties.
  • Their toxicological effects on living organisms remain under-investigated.
  • Zebrafish embryos and larvae serve as valuable animal models for toxicity studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the toxic effects of lemongrass, thyme, and oregano essential oils.
  • To assess impacts on zebrafish embryonic development and larval morphology.
  • To investigate potential neurodevelopmental toxicity through behavioral analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of zebrafish embryos to varying concentrations of essential oils.
  • Assessment of endpoints: epiboly, mortality (LC50), morphometry, and behavior.
Keywords:
embryogenesisessential oilstoxicologyzebrafish

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  • Calculation of lethal concentration 50 (LC50) values for each oil.

    • Main Results:

    • All tested essential oils inhibited epiboly, impacting embryonic development.
    • LC50 values determined: lemongrass (3.7 µg/mL), oregano (5.3 µg/mL), thyme (14.4 µg/mL).
    • Larvae exhibited morphological defects (e.g., spinal deformation, edema) and reduced growth.
    • Altered swimming behavior indicated potential neurodevelopmental toxicity.

    Conclusions:

    • Lemongrass, thyme, and oregano essential oils exhibit significant toxicity in zebrafish.
    • Adverse effects observed include developmental, morphological, and behavioral abnormalities.
    • Findings highlight the need for cautious use of these essential oils, particularly for pregnant individuals.