Eryngium foetidum is a herbaceous plant found in tropical and subtropical regions. In vivo pharmacological parameters show that leaf extracts of this plant have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activities due to their bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and phenols. Despite the evidence for several bioactivities of E. foetidum, information on its safety and tolerability is limited. The objective of this study was to assess the effect and concentration of different extracts of E. foetidum on the development of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. To study the impact of aqueous (AE), ethanolic (EE), and methanolic (ME) extracts, the embryos were exposed to 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg mL−1 for up to 120-h postfertilization to assess embryonic developmental toxicity and then to 0.039, 0.078, 0.156, 0.312, and 0.625 mg mL−1 to assess the antioxidant responses of the enzymes superoxide dismutase catalase, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and cell apoptosis. The results showed that, depending on the extraction solvent, concentration used, and exposure time, E. foetidum extracts caused mortality, altered the hatching time, and promoted changes in enzymatic activities. Delays in development and increased GST activity were found in all treatments. Apoptosis was not observed in any of the treatments. In conclusion, AE, EE, and ME concentrations above 0.625 mg mL−1 can cause adverse effects on the early stages of zebrafish development.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of Amaranthus spp. commonly happening in Brazil, besides defining the efficiency of different extraction processes of the phenolic compounds and of the antioxidant activity. Five species of the genus Amaranthus (A. spinosus, A. viridis, A. retroflexus, A. hybridus var. paniculatus e A. deflexus) were evaluated in regard to their physicochemical characteristics such as vitamin C, soluble solids, pH, moisture, lipids and protein levels as well as the coloration of the leaves. Also, the phenolic compounds and the antioxidants were defined through four extraction processes (reflux; hydroalcoholic turbo-extraction; aqueous; and methanolic). The species A. spinosus has stood out for its vitamin C levels, pH and moisture, indicating the potential of the species when compared to the others. The leaf extracts of the five Amaranthus species present differences in the total phenol levels, flavonoids and hydro flavonoids when subject to different extraction methods. The antioxidant activities were favored by the reflux and hydroalcoholic turbo-extraction, with A. viridis standing out in the reflux methods and A. spinosus in the hydroalcoholic.