Toxicity Assessment of Curculigo orchioides Leaf Extract Using Drosophila melanogaster: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Curculigo orchioides is used in Indian and Chinese traditional medicinal systems for various health benefits. However, its toxicological effects are mostly unknown. This study assesses the potential toxicity of aqueous leaf (A.L.) extract of C. orchioides using Drosophila melanogaster as an experimental model. Preliminary phytochemical tests were followed by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) tests to identify the functional group in the A.L. extract of C. orchioides. Drosophila larvae/adults were exposed to varying concentrations of C. orchioides A.L. extract through diet, and developmental, lifespan, reproduction, and locomotory behaviour assays were carried out to assess the C. orchioides toxicity at organismal levels. The cellular toxicity of A.L. extract was examined by analysing the expression of heat shock protein (hsps), reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and cell death. The FTIR analysis showed the presence of functional groups indicating the presence of secondary metabolites like saponins, phenolics, and alkaloids. Exposure to A.L. extract during development resulted in reduced emergence and wing malformations in the emerged fly. Furthermore, a significant reduction in reproductive performance and the organism’s lifespan was observed when adult flies were exposed to A.L. extract. This study indicates the adverse effect of C. orchioides A.L. extract on Drosophila and raises concerns about the practice of indiscriminate therapeutic use of plant extracts.

Artemisia argyi extract exerts antioxidant properties and extends the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster

“…It was dried in a hot air oven (DHG-9241A; Jinghong, Shanghai, China) at 80 °C for 24 h, ground into powder, and sieved through a 60-mesh sieve. For extraction, every 10 g of powder was mixed with a 1:30 solid-liquid ratio (g mL −1 ) of 60% ethanol (v/v) and subjected to ultrasonication at 360 W and 80 °C for 2 h. 36 The filtered liquor was collected through centrifugation (Neofuge-15R; Lishen Scientific Instrument Equipment, Shanghai, China). Then, the filtered liquor was absorbed using an AB-8 macroporous resin in a column (1.6 × 30 cm, packed height 20 cm) at room temperature with a flow rate of 2.0 mL min −1 .…”

Drosophila melanogaster as a model for studies related to the toxicity of lavender, ginger and copaiba essential oils

“…Considering the replacement principle of the "Three R’s" guidelines established in 1959, the use of non-chordate animals (flies, worms) instead of chordates (mice, dogs, primates) is one of the possibilities to conduct research in a more ethical way, considering that non-chordates are less sentient animals [ 16 ]. The Drosophila melanogaster is a model organism that has already been used to test the toxicity of different compounds, such as metals and plant extracts [ 17 , 18 ]. Some of the advantages of using this animal are its fast life cycle, its cheap maintenance in laboratories and a genome with significant human homology [ 18 – 20 ].…”