To assess the potential risk of toxicity in fish in the process of applying Buddleja officinalis Maxim. extract, zebrafish (Danio rerio) was selected as the model organism for developmental toxicity assessment. The nonlethal concentration (MNLC) of Buddleja officinalis extract for zebrafish was 21µg/mL, and the lethal concentration (LC10) was 34µg/mL. The extract showed no significant outcome on the zebra fish hatching rate at tested levels (2.3, 7, 21 and 34µg/mL) (P>0.05). The incidence of delayed yolk sac absorption increased in a dose-dependent manner (16.7% in control vs. 30.0%, 36.7%, 66.7% and 66.7% in treatment groups, respectively) (P<0.05). No obvious abnormalities were found in other organs or tissues. The Buddleja officinalis extract significantly increased the activity of CYP3A4 in zebrafish cytochrome P450 (CYP) at 21μg/mL and 34μg/mL, whereas 34µg/mL significantly increased the activity of CYP2D6. The extract had no significant effect on the activity of Caspase-3/7 in zebrafish at the experimental concentrations. The same situation was found regarding the morphology of zebrafish liver cells. The extract increased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax at concentrations of 21µg/mL and 34µg/mL and inhibited apoptosis at concentrations of 21µg/mL and 34µg/mL. This study revealed that the extract has no obvious toxicity for the development of zebrafish and does not cause obvious damage to zebrafish liver tissue, which provides a possibility for further research and development of Buddleja officinalis extract to alleviate stress in fish.

To Cite This Article: Li Y, Huang B, Yu H, Sun S, Han Z, Wang H and Wang Y, 2026. Developmental toxicity assessment of the extract of Buddleja Officinalis maxim. Pak Vet J, 46(5): 1341-1348. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.120