Phytochemical and Safety Evaluations of Zingiber ottensii Valeton Essential Oil in Zebrafish Embryos and Rats

Wisit Thitinarongwate; Raktham Mektrirat; Wutigri Nimlamool; Parirat Khonsung; Surachai Pikulkaew; Siriporn Okonogi; Puongtip Kunanusorn

Authors

Wisit Thitinarongwate Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected] (W.T.); [email protected] (W.N.); [email protected] (P.K.)
Raktham Mektrirat Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand; [email protected]
Wutigri Nimlamool Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected] (W.T.); [email protected] (W.N.); [email protected] (P.K.)
Parirat Khonsung Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected] (W.T.); [email protected] (W.N.); [email protected] (P.K.)
Surachai Pikulkaew Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected]
Siriporn Okonogi Department of Food Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand; [email protected]
Puongtip Kunanusorn Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected] (W.T.); [email protected] (W.N.); [email protected] (P.K.)

Keywords:

Zingiber ottensii Valeton, zebrafish, embryotoxicity, teratogenicity, rats, acute oral toxicity

Abstract

Zingiber ottensii Valeton (ZO) exhibits pharmacological activity and has long been used in traditional medicine. However, reports about its safety profiles are limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile and the toxic effects of ZO essential oil on the development of zebrafish and acute oral toxicity in rats. The essential oil was isolated from ZO rhizomes, and phytochemicals were analyzed using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometer (GC–MS). The embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of ZO essential oil were evaluated in zebrafish embryos and larvae and the acute oral toxicity was determined in rats. GC–MS results showed the essential oil contained zerumbone as a major phytoconstituent (24.73%). The zebrafish embryotoxicity of ZO essential oil appeared to be concentration- and time-dependent manner, with a moderate LC50 (1.003 µg/mL). Teratogenicity in zebrafish embryos also included morphological defects, decreased hatchability, and reduced heart rate. In rats, ZO essential oil (2000 mg/kg, p.o.) resulted in no mortality or significant toxicities. These findings suggest that ZO has embryotoxic and teratogenic effects in zebrafish embryos but does not result in death or acute oral toxicity in rats. Further long-term toxicity studies are needed to confirm the safety of products developed from ZO essential oil. Keywords: Zingiber ottensii Valeton, zebrafish, embryotoxicity, teratogenicity, rats, acute oral toxicity

Author Biographies

Wisit Thitinarongwate, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected] (W.T.); [email protected] (W.N.); [email protected] (P.K.)

Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Raktham Mektrirat, Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand; [email protected]

Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected]

Wutigri Nimlamool, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected] (W.T.); [email protected] (W.N.); [email protected] (P.K.)

Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected]

Surachai Pikulkaew, Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected]

Department of Food Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand; [email protected]

Siriporn Okonogi, Department of Food Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand; [email protected]

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand