title: Schinus terebinthifolius Leaf Extract Causes Midgut Damage, Interfering with Survival and Development of Aedes aegypti Larvae.
abstract: In this study, a leaf extract from Schinus terebinthifolius was evaluated for effects on survival, development, and midgut of A. aegypti fourth instar larvae (L4), as well as for toxic effect on Artemia salina. Leaf extract was obtained using 0.15 M NaCl and evaluated for phytochemical composition and lectin activity. Early L4 larvae were incubated with the extract (0.3-1.35%, w/v) for 8 days, in presence or absence of food. Polymeric proanthocyanidins, hydrolysable tannins, heterosid and aglycone flavonoids, cinnamic acid derivatives, traces of steroids, and lectin activity were detected in the extract, which killed the larvae at an LC50 of 0.62% (unfed larvae) and 1.03% (fed larvae). Further, the larvae incubated with the extract reacted by eliminating the gut content. No larvae reached the pupal stage in treatments at concentrations between 0.5% and 1.35%, while in the control (fed larvae), 61.7% of individuals emerged as adults. The extract (1.0%) promoted intense disorganization of larval midgut epithelium, including deformation and hypertrophy of cells, disruption of microvilli, and vacuolization of cytoplasms, affecting digestive, enteroendocrine, regenerative, and proliferating cells. In addition, cells with fragmented DNA were observed. Separation of extract components by solid phase extraction revealed that cinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids are involved in larvicidal effect of the extract, being the first most efficient in a short time after larvae treatment. The lectin present in the extract was isolated, but did not show deleterious effects on larvae. The extract and cinnamic acid derivatives were toxic to A. salina nauplii, while the flavonoids showed low toxicity. S. terebinthifolius leaf extract caused damage to the midgut of A. aegypti larvae, interfering with survival and development. The larvicidal effect of the extract can be attributed to cinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids. The data obtained using A. salina indicates that caution should be used when employing this extract as a larvicidal agent.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thamara Figueiredo
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Procópio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kenner Morais
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Viana
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Pontual
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Matos
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ximenes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Rafaella Cardoso
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina de Santana
authors.initials: Cde S
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia-CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria Mendonça de Albuquerque
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Fundamental, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50740-560, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Maria do Amaral Ferraz
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Maria Guedes
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Ferreira
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Henrique
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Napoleão
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D027926:Anacardiaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction
chemical_list: D002934:Cinnamates; D005419:Flavonoids; D037102:Lectins; D010936:Plant Extracts; C029010:cinnamic acid