Avaliação da Toxicidade do extrato de lúpulo ("Humulus lupulus") em "Drosophila melanogaster"

Abstract

Epilepsy is the second most common neurological disorder in the world, and approximately one-third of patients do not respond to conventional treatments. The disease is characterized by neuronal hyperexcitability, which results in seizures. Benzodiazepines are used in the treatment of epilepsy because they potentiate the action of the neurotransmitter GABA, reducing the frequency of seizures. Humulus lupulus Linnaeus (hops) has a hypnotic effect possibly mediated by a mechanism similar to that of benzodiazepines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of the hexanic extract of hops in Drosophila melanogaster, aiming to explore its potential as an experimental therapeutic agent. Flies from the Canton-S and w1118 strains were subjected to different concentrations of the hop extract, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 µg/mL and 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL respectively. The results, evaluated through a survival test, in Canton-S showed no toxicity at the lowest concentration. In the assays performed on w1118 flies, the vehicle group demonstrated significant toxicity, while the extract concentrations (6.25 to 100 µg/mL) proved to be safe and reduced the vehicle-induced mortality. Furthermore, the extract did not affect the hatching rate or the metamorphosis process in w1118. It is concluded that concentrations above 31.25 µg/mL are toxic to Canton-S, but safe in w1118, allowing for the monitoring of the extract's effect in all developmental stages. The hop extract demonstrated a protective effect against the toxicity of the vehicle, highlighting its potential for future therapeutic investigations in experimental models of epilepsy.