Evaluation of the antiteratogenic effects of Diospyros philippinensis (“mabolo”) leaf crude extracts to ethanol-exposed zebrafish embryos

Abstract

Prenatal exposure to ethanol is linked to morphological and functional abnormalities attributable to the formation and reaction of oxygen free radicals. Antioxidants may attenuate oxidative stress by balancing the redox state of the embryo. Zebrafish represent a good model for investigation of embryonic development and teratogenicity. In the present study, it was found that the methanol crude extract (MCE) and hexane crude extract (HCE) from the leaves of Diospyros philippinensis (Ebenaceae) reversed morphological defects caused by ethanol. Embryos co-exposed to ethanol and either extract had heart rates, angles of axial length, and yolk sac diameters significantly different from embryos exposed to ethanol alone. Mortality differed significantly only between ethanol-exposed embryos and embryos co-exposed to ethanol and MCE. Body lengths differed significantly only between ethanol-exposed embryos and embryos co-exposed to ethanol and HCE. Hatching values did not differ significantly across all treatments. The few differences in degree of attenuation between MCE and HCE are inconclusive as to which extract had the greater antiteratogenic effect. The study concluded that antioxidant phytochemicals in the leaves of D. philippinensis such as flavonoids and saponins possessed antiteratogenic activity against ethanol. This supports potential medicinal uses of other species in the Diospyros genus.