Toxicological assessment of the aqueous extract in the alternative model.

, popularly called "marcela" in Brazil, is used in traditional medicine in South America. , inflorescences are used for many conditions, including to minimize the Sars-Cov-2 symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the toxicity profile of aqueous extract (ASAE), using the () alternative model. Survival, reproduction, development, and transgenerational assays were performed. The effects of ASAE were investigated under conditions of thermal stress and presence of oxidant hydrogen peroxide (HO). In addition, strains containing high antioxidant enzyme levels and elevated lineages of daf-16, skn-1 and daf-2 regulatory pathways were examined. The ASAE LC value was found to be 77.3 ± 4 mg/ml. The concentration of ASAE 10 mg/ml (frequently used in humans) did not exhibit a significant reduction in worm survival at either the L1 or L4 stage, after 24 or 72 hr treatment. ASAE did not markedly alter the body area. In N2 strain, ASAE (10 or 25 mg/ml) reversed the damage initiated by HO. In addition, ASAE protected the damage produced by HO in strains containing significant levels of -3, -4 and - 1,2,3, suggesting modulation in these antioxidant systems by this plant extract. ASAE exposure activated and stress response transcriptional pathways independently of , even under extreme stress. Data suggest that ASAE, at the concentrations tested in , exhibits a reliable toxicity profile, which may contribute to consideration for safe use in humans.