title: Protective Role of Comfrey Leave Extracts on UV-induced Zebrafish Fin Damage.
abstract: In zebrafish, UV exposure leads to fin malformation phenotypes including fin reduction or absence. The present study evaluated UV-protective activities of comfrey leaves extracts in a zebrafish model by recording fin morphological changes. Chemopreventive effects of comfrey leave extracts were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression. The results showed that (1) the mean times of return to normal fin in the UV+comfrey (50 and 100 ppm) groups were 3.43 and 2.86 days and were quicker compared with that in the UV only group (4.21 days); (2) zebrafish fins in the UV+comfrey (50 and 100 ppm) groups were 2.05 and 3.25 times more likely to return to normal than those in the UV only group; and (3) comfrey leave extracts had UV-absorbance abilities and significantly reduced ROS production in UV-exposed zebrafish embryos, which may attenuate UV-mediated apoptosis. In conclusion, comfrey leaves extracts may have the potential to be developed as UV-protective agents to protect zebrafish embryos from UV-induced damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chia-Yi University, Chia-Yi City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, No. 151 Ying-chuan Road, Tamsui, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yao-Chin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chia-Yi University, Chia-Yi City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsuan-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Tamkang University, Tamsui, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, No. 151 Ying-chuan Road, Tamsui, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yau-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: UV; comfrey; fin; zebrafish