<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The fern <italic>Nephrolepis exaltata</italic> (L.) Schott, fam. Nephrolepidaceae, has little traditional medicinal use. In order to estimate its potential safety, in the present study we have investigated the phytotoxicity (on <italic>Triticum aestivum</italic> L.) and toxicity on brine shrimp of extracts from plants grown hydroponically. The species identity was confirmed by macroscopic and microscopic examinations on rhizomes, rachises, pinnae and runners, using bright field and fluorescent microscopy. Biological assays were performed on aqueous and ethanol solutions of the fronds. The brine shrimp lethality assay was performed on <italic>Artemia franciscana</italic> Kellog and a phytobiological bioassay on <italic>Triticum aestivum</italic> L. Lethality, root elongation and karyokinetic film modifications were evaluated, and LC50 and IC50 values were calculated. The microscopic analysis revealed the main histo-anatomic elements: polystelic structure and hypodermis (rhizome, rachis, runners), trichomes (rachis), homogenous structure, trichomes and diacytic/anisocytic stomata (leaves). The ethanol and aqueous extracts showed low cytotoxic effects on both <italic>Triticum aestivum</italic> roots and <italic>Artemia franciscana</italic> nauplii.</abstract>

The fern Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott, fam. Nephrolepidaceae, has little traditional medicinal use. In order to estimate its potential safety, in the present study we have investigated the phytotoxicity (on Triticum aestivum L.) and toxicity on brine shrimp of extracts from plants grown hydroponically. The species identity was confirmed by macroscopic and microscopic examinations on rhizomes, rachises, pinnae and runners, using bright field and fluorescent microscopy. Biological assays were performed on aqueous and ethanol solutions of the fronds. The brine shrimp lethality assay was performed on Artemia franciscana Kellog and a phytobiological bioassay on Triticum aestivum L. Lethality, root elongation and karyokinetic film modifications were evaluated, and LC50 and IC50 values were calculated. The microscopic analysis revealed the main histo-anatomic elements: polystelic structure and hypodermis (rhizome, rachis, runners), trichomes (rachis), homogenous structure, trichomes and diacytic/anisocytic stomata (leaves). The ethanol and aqueous extracts showed low cytotoxic effects on both Triticum aestivum roots and Artemia franciscana nauplii.

Toxicity Assessment of <italic>Nephrolepis exaltata</italic> (L.) Schott, Fam. Nephrolepidaceae

Department of Fundamental Pharmaceutical Sciences, Discipline of Pharmaceutical Botany and Cellular Biology

The University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”

Acta Biologica Marisiensis

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Toxicity Assessment of  (L.) Schott, Fam. Nephrolepidaceae

The fern Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott, fam. Nephrolepidaceae, has little traditional medicinal use. In order to estimate its potential safety, in the...

Toxicity Assessment of Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott, Fam. Nephrolepidaceae

Publié en ligne: 08 juin 2020

Pages: 27 - 36

Reçu: 03 juin 2018

Accepté: 08 juin 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/abmj-2018-0004

Mots clés
microscopy, bioassay, bioassay, hydroponics

© 2018 Patriciu Constantin Popovici et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Toxicity Assessment of Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott, Fam. Nephrolepidaceae

Publié en ligne: 08 juin 2020

Pages: 27 - 36

Reçu: 03 juin 2018

Accepté: 08 juin 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/abmj-2018-0004

Mots clésmicroscopy, bioassay, bioassay, hydroponics

© 2018 Patriciu Constantin Popovici et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
microscopy, bioassay, bioassay, hydroponics