Histopathological, cytotoxicological, and genotoxic effects of the semi-synthetic compound dillapiole n-butyl ether in Balb/C mice

ABSTRACT

Dillapiole n-butyl ether is a substance derived from dillapiole, which exhibits potential insecticidal effects on Aedes aegypti, the principal vector of the Dengue fever, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses, as well as Aedes albopictus, a vector of Dengue fever. As these mosquitoes are resistant to synthetic insecticides, dillapiole n-butyl ether may represent a valuable, plant-based alternative for their control. Dillapiole n-butyl ether has insecticidal and genotoxic effects on A. aegypti and A. albopictus, as shown by the reduction in clutch size and egg viability, and increased mortality rates, as well as a high frequency of micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations. However, the potential cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of this substance in mammals are still unknown. In Balb/C mice, structural changes were detected in hepatic, renal, and cardiac tissues, which were directly proportional to the concentration of the dose applied, in both genders. The induction of genotoxic, mutagenic, and cytotoxic effects was also observed at the highest concentrations (150 and 328 mg/kg). Further research will be necessary to better characterize the potential genotoxicity of this substance at lower concentrations, for the evaluation of the potential health risks related to its presence in environmental features, such as drinking water.

KEYWORDS:

• Bioinsecticides
• dengue fever
• Zika
• Chikungunya
• micronucleus

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Wanderli Pedro Tadei, at the INPA Laboratory of Malaria and Dengue Vectors, Dr. Adalberto Luis Val, Laboratory of Ecophysiology and Molecular Evolution, and Dr. Jacqueline da Silva Batista of the Graduate Program in Genetics, Conservation, and Evolutionary Biology at the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), for institutional support.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there have no conflicts of interest.

Disclaimer

The authors declare that they are under no legal obligation to notify their participation in this work.

Additional information

Funding

The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), INCT-ADAPTA II/INPA, Process number 465540/2014-7; FAPEAM/SEPLANCTI/Amazonas State Government – POSGRAD, Resource number 002/2016, and FAPEAM, the Amazonas State Research Foundation, through public notice 021/2011 (Amazonas Universal Research Support Program), process number 1036/2011.