toxicity and fertility studies of cornus capitata well. fruit extract in the zebrafish model

Background: polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) is a complex endocrine disorder, demanding the development of safe and effective treatment. cornus capitata wall. fruits are particularly known for their anticancer, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects. the present study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and therapeutic potential of the methanolic extract of cornus capitata well. fruits (meccf) using the fish embryo toxicity assay and testosterone-induced pcos in the zebrafish model. methods: the phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity (dpph and ferric reducing power assay) of meccf were evaluated. embryo toxicity was evaluated in zebrafish embryos based on survival and morphological analyses using different concentrations of meccf (5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.3125, 0.156 g/l). adult zebrafish (3-8 months) were given testosterone (100 ng) dissolved in distilled water containing 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide, followed by meccf treatment (31.25 mg/l, 62.25 mg/l).results: in vitro antioxidant studies revealed a significant free radical scavenging property of meccf. the embryo toxicity assay revealed that meccf concentrations of 5, 2.5, 1.25, and 0.625 g/l indicated the highest rates of lethality. moreover, 0.3125 and 0.156 g/l were found to have no lethal effects even after 9 hours post-fertilization. exposure to 62.25 mg/l meccf in adult zebrafish resulted in significant changes in testosterone levels, gonadosomatic index, and ovarian health. conclusion: the meccf exhibits potent antioxidant activity and improves testosterone-induced pcos symptoms in adult zebrafish, with low toxicity at appropriate concentrations in zebrafish embryos. observed therapeutic effects may be attributed to the presence of triterpenoids and flavonoids, supporting its potential as a natural candidate for managing pcos symptoms.