CYTOTOXICITY AND FUNCTIONAL GROUPS ANALYSIS IN THE RIGHT-WING OF Musca domestica

ARTICLE HIGLIGHTS- Studies on Musca domestica secondary metabolites remain limited.- BSLA results showed significant cytotoxicity in all extracts (aqueous, ethanolic, and 50:50 aqueous–ethanolic).- Extracts contained amides, alcohols, amines, and alkenes.- Amides and alkenes may contribute to cytotoxic activity.- The right wing of the housefly shows potential for future bioactive compound and drug discovery studies.ABSTRACTThe housefly (Musca domestica) is a disease vector, yet its survival in pathogenic environments suggests an effective innate immune system. The right wing, often overlooked, is hypothesized to serve as a reservoir for secondary metabolites and has been shown to inhibit pathogen colonization. This study aimed to assess the cytotoxicity and identify functional groups in the right wing of M. domestica to elucidate their significance. Three extracts (aqueous, ethanolic, and 50:50 aqueous-ethanolic) were tested using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay (BSLA) for cytotoxicity screening. The BSLA results showed that all three extracts were toxic after 24 hours, with the aqueous extract exhibiting the highest toxicity value, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was performed on the most toxic-the aqueous extract-and confirmed the presence of amide, alcohol, amine, and alkene functional groups. The presence of these groups supports the existence of previously isolated bioactive compounds in the right wing, such as antimicrobial peptides and 1-lysophosphatidylethanolamine. These functional groups, particularly amides and alkenes, are known to enhance cytotoxicity. In conclusion, the right wing of M. domestica is a potential bioactive source for drug discovery, with its extracts proving cytotoxic and containing key functional groups. For further study, comparative analyses across different maturity stages of M. domestica are recommended to determine the most suitable stage for medicinal use.