Psychoactive property of Tasmannia piperita leaf extract in zebrafish by behavioral approach
- 1Department of Biology, School of Nursing, Allied Health and Biological Sciences, Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines.
- 2Department of Biology, School of Nursing, Allied Health and Biological Sciences, Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines
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.
Related
- Sociodemographic characteristics, psychoactive substance use, and an operational marker of recurrent and complex behavioral patterns in patients hospitalized for bipolar disorder: a cross-sectional study
- Editorial: Adolescent smoking, alcohol consumption and psychoactive substance misuse in low-middle income countries
- Prevalence of novel psychoactive substances in selected clinical urine specimens submitted for drug monitoring
- The hidden severity of new psychoactive substances: clinical evidence from emergency and intensive care admissions in Taiwan.
- Measuring the Awareness Level of the Residents of Wilayat Sinaw in the Sultanate of Oman Regarding the Dangers of Drugs, Psychoactive Substances, and Electronic Cigarettes
BibTeX
@article{angalan2026psychoactive,
title = {{Psychoactive property of Tasmannia piperita leaf extract in zebrafish by behavioral approach}},
author = {Norbert Q. Angalan and Zedrock B. Galotia and Sherlyn S. Basquial and Liane A. Sanet and Krisha Joy A. Almoza and Krisha Mae C. Cabanilla and Bianca Francine F. Cacayan and Jomel Francesca C. Milado and Cecilene Antonette F. Tactay and Hilbert S. Balangay},
journal = {NUST Journal of Natural Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.53992/njns.v11i3.342},
url = {https://doi.org/10.53992/njns.v11i3.342},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Psychoactive property of Tasmannia piperita leaf extract in zebrafish by behavioral approach
AU - Norbert Q. Angalan
AU - Zedrock B. Galotia
AU - Sherlyn S. Basquial
AU - Liane A. Sanet
AU - Krisha Joy A. Almoza
AU - Krisha Mae C. Cabanilla
AU - Bianca Francine F. Cacayan
AU - Jomel Francesca C. Milado
AU - Cecilene Antonette F. Tactay
AU - Hilbert S. Balangay
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - NUST Journal of Natural Sciences
DO - 10.53992/njns.v11i3.342
UR - https://doi.org/10.53992/njns.v11i3.342
AB - 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.
SN - 2072-4659
SN - 2710-222X
ER -