{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]],"date-time":"2026-01-21T10:52:24Z","timestamp":1768992744043,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,3]],"date-time":"2025-08-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754179200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FCT\u2014Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["UIDB\/04033\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/04033\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. leaves are rich in polyphenolic compounds, yet their toxicological effects in aquatic models remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the impact of a hydroethanolic E. japonica leaf extract on zebrafish embryos through the use of morphological, behavioral, and biochemical parameters. The 96 h LC50 was determined as 189.8 \u00b1 4.5 mg\/L, classifying the extract as practically non-toxic, according to OECD guidelines. Thereby, embryos were exposed for 90 h to 75 and 150 mg\/L concentrations of the E. japonica leaf extract. While no significant effects were noted at the lowest concentration of 150 mg\/L, significant developmental effects were observed, including reduced survival, delayed hatching, underdevelopment of the swim bladder, and retention of the yolk sac. These malformations were accompanied by marked behavioral impairments. Biochemical analysis revealed a concentration-dependent increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, suggesting the activation of antioxidant defenses, despite no significant change in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. This indicates a potential compensatory redox response to a pro-oxidant signal. Additionally, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was significantly reduced at the highest concentration, which may have contributed to the observed neurobehavioral changes. While AChE inhibition is commonly associated with neurotoxicity, it is also a known therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting concentration-dependent dual effects. In summary, the E. japonica leaf extract induced concentration-dependent developmental and behavioral effects in zebrafish embryos, while activating antioxidant responses without triggering oxidative damage. These findings highlight the extract\u2019s potential bioactivity and underscore the need for further studies to explore its safety and therapeutic relevance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules30153252","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]],"date-time":"2025-08-04T13:11:11Z","timestamp":1754313071000},"page":"3252","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Effects of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. Leaf Extract on Zebrafish Embryogenesis, Behavior, and Biochemical Pathways"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"30","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-4077-1780","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jorge","family":"Barros","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB, Inov4Agro), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Agricultural Sciences, Higher Polytechnic Institute of Bengo, B. Caboxa|Dande, Bengo 244-2004, Angola"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0575-4958","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Irene","family":"Gouvinhas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB, Inov4Agro), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3880-3442","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos","family":"Ven\u00e2ncio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB, Inov4Agro), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Daniel","family":"Granato","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bioactivity & Applications Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5834-6141","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Novo","family":"Barros","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB, Inov4Agro), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9870-6666","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds","family":"F\u00e9lix","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB, Inov4Agro), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sarker, S.D., Latif, Z., and Gray, A.I. 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