Evaluation of Toxicity of Crude Phlorotannins and Phloroglucinol Using Different Model Organisms

Abstract

Phlorotannins have been proven to contain numerous bioactive compounds that have potential to be applied in variety industries, including cosmetics, functional foods, nutraceuticals, environmental management, and medicine. The larvicidal and growth-inhibiting properties of phlorotannins have been extensively studied in various organisms. However, the toxicity of the phloroglucinol oligomer of phlorotannin is unclear, especially in Artemia salina, Daphnia magna, Lactuca sativa, and Chlorella vulgaris, which are commonly used in many bioassays. Therefore, research using these four organisms should be designed to provide basic information about the toxic effects of phlorotannins and phloroglucinol. This study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal and inhibitory properties of phlorotannins and phloroglucinol on A. salina, D. magna, L. sativa, and C. vulgaris. Phlorotannin extract and phloroglucinol were administered at various concentrations to each test organism. The survival rate of A. salina nauplii and D. magna neonates was observed every 24 h to 72 h, whereas the L. sativa seed germination and inhibition rate of C. vulgaris were observed up to 96 h. The results showed that the 24 h LC50 of phlorotannin on A. salina and D. magna were 10.67 and 1.32 mg/mL, respectively. The germination inhibition of L. sativa was 53.3% with a seed growth of less than 4 mm after 96 h upon exposure to 1 mg/mL of phlorotannin. Freshwater and seawater C. vulgaris experienced yield inhibition of 39.47 and 43.46%, respectively, when 2 mg/mL of phlorotanin was added. These results indicate that phlorotannin affects the survival and growth of the test organisms, so its use as a pesticide, herbicide, and algaecide agent for environmental and aquaculture applications can be further studied.

Use of micro and macroalgae extracts for the control of vector mosquitoes

“…There is information in the literature that phlorotannins have a larvicidal effect, including on mosquitoes ( Negara et al, 2021 ). Purified phlorotannins showed pesticidal, herbicidal and algicidal effects on some organisms ( Artemia salina, Chlorella vulgaris , Daphnia magna, Lactuca sativa) in aquatic environments ( Harwanto et al, 2022 ).…”

Product safety aspects of plant molecular farming

“…It is therefore necessary to remove such metabolites during product purification, depleting them not only below the level of toxicity but below the minimum effect level, which may be unknown or difficult to determine. Furthermore, the specific compound in a plant extract that triggers a given biological reaction (such as the impairment of immune responses) may not yet be known ( Harwanto et al, 2022 ; Urbański et al, 2023 ). Establishing and updating systematic databases of plant-derived toxins ( Günthardt et al, 2018 ) can help to ascertain the risks associated with certain plant hosts in a rational manner.…”

A concise review of the bioactivity and pharmacological properties of the genus Codium (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta)

“…Marine macroalgae contain bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, coumarins, fucosterol, phlorotannin, tocopherols, and nitrogen-containing compounds, including alkaloids, chlorophyll derivatives, amino acids, and amines, which are potential molecules with various pharmacological properties (Celikler et al 2009;Ali et al 2015;Gaspar et al 2020;Meinita et al 2021Meinita et al , 2022Harwanto et al 2022). Several carotenoids, including siphonaxanthin and canthaxanthin, have been reported in C. fragile.…”