An evaluation of toxicity assessment in zebrafish (danio rerio) embryo induced by mitragyna speciosa

Recently, the widely usage kratom by population in Southeast Asia suggested abuse potential and increasing in concern. This study was aim to examine kratom effects towards zebrafish by exploring its potential to alter the embryonic development. The embryo (n=10) was exposed to five different concentrations (10, 50, 150, 250, 300 mg/L). The embryo was observed for every interval of 24 hours (maximum of 5 days) using inverter microscope. After a short-term treatment, heart rate, embryo abnormalities and hatching rate were observed. Findings shown that there were significant changes (p<0.0001) starting at ≥10 mg/L concentration for every day of observation. The embryo heart rate in kratom and shown gradually increase throughout 5 days’ observation. The highest heart rate reached 186 bpm at day 5 and lowest was 40 bpm at day 1 in kratom treatments. The embryo tails shown curvature formation after 24 hpf in kratom and significant delayed (p<0.05) hatch rate (≥250 mg/L) in kratom. These data suggest that the short term and long-term exposure of kratom consumption significantly alter the embryo development, decrease heart rate and induced pericardial and yolk sac edema.