We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Potential toxicity of Schisandra chinensis to water environment: acute toxicity tests with water crustaceans
Summary
Aquatic toxicity tests with water crustaceans and algae assessed the environmental safety of Schisandra chinensis extracts used in health supplements, finding that bioactive secondary metabolites in this plant can cause ecotoxicological effects in aquatic organisms.
Fruits of Schisandra chinensis, an East Asian liana plant, are currently more and more used to produce nutrient supplements that positively affect human health due to the content of various secondary metabolites. On the other hand, these substances because of their bioactivity can cause possible allelopathic or toxic effects concerning other organisms (algae, plants, animals). But the ecotoxicological properties of S. chinensis outside its area of origin have yet to be sufficiently verified. Two crustaceans, Daphnia magna and Thamnocephalus platyurus, were selected as model aquatic organisms to test the potential impact of S. chinensis active compounds on the aquatic environment. Crude water extract from S. chinensis fruits, simulating the natural leakage of active substances in water, was tested in treatments from 0.0045 to 45 mg/L (according to the content of schisandrin as the dominating lignan). Effective concentration (EC50) causing 50% lethal effect for D. magna was established to 0.0448 mg/L after 24 h and 0.0152 mg/L after 48 h. EC50 for T. platyurus reached 0.4572 mg/L after 24 h, i.e. more than ten times higher than for D. magna. This study showed that the potential environmentally relevant concentrations of S. chinensis bioactive compounds could represent a severe risk to aquatic ecosystems.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Comparative acute toxicity study of Syringodium isoetifolium on aquatic and rodent experimental animals
This paper is not about microplastics; it tests the acute toxicity of a seagrass (Syringodium isoetifolium) extract on brine shrimp, zebrafish, and rats to evaluate its safety profile for potential pharmaceutical use.
Acute toxicity assessment of polyaniline/Ag nanoparticles/graphene oxide quantum dots on Cypridopsis vidua and Artemia salina
Researchers tested the toxicity of a nanocomposite material — designed to remove toxic chromium from water — on two small aquatic animals (brine shrimp and freshwater ostracods), finding it caused high toxicity only at very large doses well above practical treatment concentrations. The results suggest this nanoadsorbent is relatively safe for aquatic life at the concentrations likely used in water treatment applications.
The Impact of Microalgae and Their Bioactive Compounds on Liver Well-being in Rats Subjected to Synthetic Phenolic Antioxidants
This review examines how microalgae and their bioactive compounds — including polysaccharides, pigments, and polyphenols — protect liver health in animal models, summarizing evidence for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. The authors note that algal-derived compounds show hepatoprotective effects in rodent studies, though human clinical evidence remains limited.
Edibility of cultivated green seaweed Ulva intestinalis from Monkhali Beach, Cox’s Bazar coast of Bangladesh: bio-toxicity and heavy metal contents
Researchers tested whether a green seaweed (Ulva intestinalis) farmed in Bangladesh was safe to eat by exposing several test organisms to its extracts and measuring its heavy metal content, finding no significant toxicity and heavy metal levels well below dangerous thresholds. The results suggest this seaweed could be a viable functional food or health supplement for consumers in Bangladesh.
Pollutant toxicology with respect to microalgae and cyanobacteria
This review examines the toxicological responses of microalgae and cyanobacteria to a wide range of pollutants, arguing that these organisms are valuable and sensitive indicators for aquatic ecotoxicological assessment.