Untargeted metabolic analysis using LC-Q-TOF-MS and toxicity assessment of Eryngium foetidum in zebrafish embryos

Toxicological studies of edible plant species are important to determine the safety of their consumption. Eryngium foetidum is an edible plant used in some countries for seasoning food and as a natural remedy in folk medicine. Despite this species’ gastronomic and medicinal properties, the chemical composition and toxicity have been unclear. The objective of our investigation was to determine the toxic potential of E. foetidum in the zebrafish embryo model and identify the potential compounds involved in its toxicity by electrospray ionization liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Acute exposure of zebrafish embryos to n-hexane extract produced higher toxicity than the other extracts in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion (coagulated embryo). A 96-h median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 2.63 µg mL^–1 (CI 95 % 0.58–28.5) was calculated by probit analysis. Caudal fin hypertrophy, head, yolk sac edema, caudal region, or somite malformations were observed. Secondary metabolites such as terpenes, polyphenols, and fatty acids were identified in the n-hexane extract. Also, pollutants such as diglycidyl resorcinol ether, diisopropyl adipate, and lauryl sulfate were found in the n-hexane extract. Our study revealed that chemical pollutants could be associated with the embryonic toxicity of the n-hexane extract of E. foetidum.