Efectos Biológicos De Extractos Etanólicos De Conyza Trihecatactis Y Pentacalia Ledifolia Usando Como Modelo El Pez Cebra

Abstract

Conyza trihecatactis and Pentacalia ledifolia are high mountain plants that are known for their medicinal properties by native populations. The first one has been used traditionally as diuretic, febrifuge and emmenagogue, while the second one has been used as disinfectant and healing stimulant. However, the research about the biological activity of secondary metabolites of these species is very limited. To date, it has been shown anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties for Conyza trihecatactis and anti-fungal properties for Pentacalia ledifolia only. Thus, we aim to evaluate the toxicity and the anti-inflammatory properties in vivo of secondary metabolites of Conyza trihecatactis and Pentacalia ledifolia in ethanolic extracts using zebrafish as animal model. Here we present the toxicity analysis, observations about developmental morphological defects, and the evaluation of anti-inflammatory properties by quantification of neutrophils accumulated in an induced injury for each plant extract in zebrafish embryos. We found that the LC50 for Conyza trihecatactis and Pentacalia ledifolia extracts correspond to 8,8553 mg/L and 54,349 mg/L respectively. Regarding morphological and physiological observations, extracts from both species produce mainly circulatory and neuromuscular associated defects. Finally, using the highest dose with no observable toxic effects for each extract, we found reduction of 74,99% and 90% in neutrophils accumulation for Conyza trihecatactis and Pentacalia ledifolia respectively. Our results not only show the use of zebrafish as animal model for evaluating biological activity of plant extracts for first time in Colombia, but also provide evidences to support the anti-inflammatory properties claimed for Conyza trihecatactis and Pentacalia ledifolia.