COMPARATIVE DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY OF VANILLA SPECIES EXTRACTS IN ZEBRAFISH (DANIO RERIO) EMBRYOS

Vanilla species are widely employed in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, yet toxicological information remains scarce for several species, especially those native to Brazil. In this study, we investigated the acute and developmental toxicity of hydroalcoholic extracts from Vanilla phaeantha, V. pompona, V. planifolia, and V. cribbiana in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Embryos at approximately 2 hours post-fertilization were exposed to extract concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 400 μg/mL for 96 hours, according to the OECD Test Guideline 236, with adaptations. Mortality and developmental alterations were assessed throughout the exposure period, and toxicity was further characterized based on toxicity scores, heart rate, body length, eye diameter, LC₅₀, TC₅₀, NOAEL, and LOAEL values. Marked differences in toxicity were observed among the extracts. V. pompona showed the greatest acute toxicity, with an LC₅₀ of 100.3 μg/mL, while V. phaeantha exhibited the lowest toxicity, with an LC₅₀ above 400 μg/mL. A concentration-dependent increase in toxicity scores was observed for all species, with pericardial edema and yolk sac retention representing the most frequent developmental alterations. The TC₅₀ values also differed among extracts, ranging from 12.30 μg/mL for V. planifolia to 41.84 μg/mL for V. phaeantha. These findings demonstrate species-dependent differences in the toxicological profiles of Vanilla extracts, which may reflect variations in their phytochemical composition. The results highlight the usefulness of zebrafish embryos for comparative developmental toxicity assessment and provide additional toxicological data for Vanilla species with potential applications in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.

This work was supported by the INOVA Program of Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), the Conselho Nac. Des. Cient. Tecnológico (CNPq), the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), the Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), and the Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO).