Psychoactive property of Tasmannia piperita leaf extract in zebrafish by behavioral approach
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study evaluates the psychoactive properties of Tasmannia piperita leaf extract using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a behavioral model through behavioral assays. T. piperita crude leaf extract was processed via ethanolic extraction with characterization performed using spectrophotometry. Relatively, TAC, TPC, and TFC assays revealed that the extract contained high levels of phenolic compounds (3,380 µg GAE/g), moderate alkaloid content (1,010 µg AE/g), and low flavonoid concentration (270 µg QE/g). Adult zebrafish were exposed to 30, 60, and 120 mg/L of plant extract concentrations, alongside negative and diazepam-treated (0.16 mg/L) controls, then subjected to mirror-biting, novel tank, and shoaling tests. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated behavioral variation associated with locomotion, exploratory activity, and social cohesion across treatment groups. In the mirror-biting test, the 60 mg/L treatment significantly reduced mirror-zone engagement, suggesting suppression of aggressive or socially motivated behavior. In the novel tank test, the 120 mg/L treatment significantly decreased upper-zone entries, indicating increased anxiety-like bottom-dwelling behavior without affecting general locomotion. Shoaling behavior showed no statistically significant differences among treatments; however, the 120 mg/L concentration caused complete mortality, suggesting group-related acute toxicity. The study highlights the dose-dependent psychoactive and behavioral effects of T. piperita in zebrafish, with moderate concentrations producing behavioral modulation and higher concentrations demonstrating potential toxicological effects which provide preliminary insights into the psychoactive influence of the plant extract.
Source: NUST Journal of Natural Sciences
Institution: Saint Louis University
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223380156