Leaf and fruit extracts of Solanum betaceum Cav.: Antioxidant potential and embryotoxicity using a zebrafish model

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential and toxicological effects of <i>Solanum betaceum</i> leaf and fruit extracts on zebrafish embryos. Leaf and fruit pulp extracts were prepared by turbo extraction using distilled water or methanol as solvent. The levels of total phenols and flavonoids were quantified. The antioxidant potential was assessed by the total antioxidant capacity test and two free radical scavenging tests. The toxic effects of <i>S. betaceum</i> species were assessed using an acute toxicity test on zebrafish embryos exposed to <i>S. betaceum</i> extracts. The leaves of <i>S. betaceum</i> were found to have high total phenolic and flavonoid content, high total antioxidant capacity and high toxicity to developing zebrafish embryos, with a teratogenic index (TI) equal to 17.65. The leaves are used topically in folk medicine, which may allow for safer utilization of phenolics compared to oral ingestion. The fruits had higher free radical scavenging activity and lower toxicity for the embryos than the leaves, with the TI around 2.2. Water was a more suitable solvent than methanol for obtaining safer bioactive compounds from <i>S. betaceum</i> leaf and fruit. This work provides an initial basis for pharmacological studies of <i>S. betaceum</i> species in animal models.