Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrec.: A medicinal plant for gynecological treatments - A reproductive toxicity assessment in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Beatriz Martins de Sá Hyacienth; Brenda Lorena Sánchez-Ortiz; Karyny Roberta Tavares Picanço; Arlindo César Matias Pereira; Danilo Cabral de Sá Hyacienth; Gisele Custódio de Souza; Rosângela do Socorro Ferreira Rodrigues Sarquis; Glória Melisa Gonzales Aduanga; Andrés Navarrete; José Carlos Tavares Carvalho

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2019.112457

Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrec.: A medicinal plant for gynecological treatments - A reproductive toxicity assessment in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Mar 25:250:112457. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112457. Epub 2019 Dec 4.

Affiliations

¹ Universidade Federal do Amapá, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Rua Juscelino Kubitschek, S/N, Campus Marco Zero, CEP 68903-419, Macapá, AP, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação da Rede de Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazônia Legal, BIONORTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, AP, Brazil. Electronic address: beatriz.martins.sa@gmail.com.
² Universidade Federal do Amapá, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Rua Juscelino Kubitschek, S/N, Campus Marco Zero, CEP 68903-419, Macapá, AP, Brazil; Laboratório de Farmacologia de Productos Naturales, Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico. Electronic address: charmed1797@gmail.com.
³ Universidade Federal do Amapá, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Rua Juscelino Kubitschek, S/N, Campus Marco Zero, CEP 68903-419, Macapá, AP, Brazil. Electronic address: Krynyroberta07@gmail.com.
⁴ Universidade Federal do Amapá, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Rua Juscelino Kubitschek, S/N, Campus Marco Zero, CEP 68903-419, Macapá, AP, Brazil. Electronic address: arlindo.bio@outlook.com.
⁵ Universidade Federal do Amapá, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Rua Juscelino Kubitschek, S/N, Campus Marco Zero, CEP 68903-419, Macapá, AP, Brazil. Electronic address: dhyacienth@gmail.com.
⁶ Universidade Federal do Amapá, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Rua Juscelino Kubitschek, S/N, Campus Marco Zero, CEP 68903-419, Macapá, AP, Brazil. Electronic address: custodio_gisele@yahoo.com.br.
⁷ Universidade Federal do Amapá, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Rua Juscelino Kubitschek, S/N, Campus Marco Zero, CEP 68903-419, Macapá, AP, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação da Rede de Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazônia Legal, BIONORTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, AP, Brazil. Electronic address: rosangela.sarquis.bot@gmail.com.
⁸ Laboratório de Farmacologia de Productos Naturales, Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico. Electronic address: mel_doux@hotmail.com.
⁹ Laboratório de Farmacologia de Productos Naturales, Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico. Electronic address: anavarrt@unam.mx.
¹⁰ Universidade Federal do Amapá, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fármacos, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Rua Juscelino Kubitschek, S/N, Campus Marco Zero, CEP 68903-419, Macapá, AP, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação da Rede de Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazônia Legal, BIONORTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, AP, Brazil. Electronic address: farmacos@unifap.br.

PMID: 31811936
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112457

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrec is a plant species from the Brazilian Amazon. The barks of this tree are used in folk medicine - mainly as a decoction - for dyslipidemia, uterine infection, fibroids, polycystic ovary, menstrual disorders, as a contraceptive and abortive agent, among others. However, the data available about its developmental toxicity are still insufficient.

Aim of the study: This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive toxicity and teratogenic effects in embryos from zebrafish treated with the hydroethanolic extract from the barks of Endopleura uchi (EEu).

Materials and methods: Both sexes of zebrafish (Danio rerio) were treated with EEu either through immersion (1.2, 2.5, and 5 mg/L) or orally (75, 200, and 500 mg/kg) over 21 consecutive days. Next, we assessed their fertility and gonads' histopathology; in their embryos were assessed teratogenesis, lethalities, and heart rate during daily observations (24, 48, 72, and 96 hpf).

Results: The phytochemical analysis of EEu through HPLC/MS shows bergenin as the major compounds. After 21 days of treatment were detected minor histopathological changes in parental fishes, such as atretic oocytes, interstitial fibrosis, and decreased the percentage of early vitellogenic oocytes, but without impairing the reproduction of treated animals. However, in the embryos was observed significantly increased frequency of malformation in all the groups treated through immersion, and in the group treated orally with the highest concentration (500 mg/kg).

Conclusion: Based on the results, EEu caused no adverse effects in the progenitors on both treatments (immersion and oral). However, it was observed that the concentrations 1.2, 2.5, and 5 mg/L (immersion), and the dose 500 mg/kg (oral) caused malformations in the offspring (F1 generation). These results emphasize the need for attention when using preparations from E. uchi, mainly for pregnant women. Further studies are needed to compare its effects with the extract's primary compound (bergenin).

Keywords: Bergenin; Endopleura uchi; Reproductive toxicity; Teratogenesis.

MeSH terms

Animals
Embryo, Nonmammalian / abnormalities
Embryo, Nonmammalian / drug effects*
Embryonic Development / drug effects
Female
Genital Diseases, Female / drug therapy
Male
Malpighiales*
Phytochemicals / analysis
Phytochemicals / toxicity
Plant Bark
Plant Extracts / chemistry
Plant Extracts / toxicity*
Plants, Medicinal
Reproduction / drug effects*
Teratogens / chemistry
Teratogens / toxicity*
Zebrafish / abnormalities

Substances

Phytochemicals
Plant Extracts
Teratogens