TERATOGENICITY AND BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY OF NANOSYNTHESIZED JUSTICIA ADHATODA IN THE EMBRYOS OF DANIO RERIO

In the present study, Justicia adhatoda was used for synthesizing AgNPs and characterized using UV-visible, FTIR, XRD, and SEM analysis and checked for its teratogenic effect and bactericidal activity. UV–Vis spectra analysis revealed that the synthesized AgNPs had a peak around 434 nm, while XRD and SEM analysis showed that AgNPs have spherical shapes with sizes ranging from 22 to 29 nm. Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) analysis authorized the presence of bio interactive hydroxyl, amide, and carbonyl groups playing an important reduction role in the process of nano-synthesis. The acute developmental toxicity of Justicia adhatoda leaf extracts with nanosynthesised AgNPs on the embryos of the zebrafish, Danio rerio, revealed that the mortality, hatchability, heartbeat rate, teratogenicity, and embryogenicity were all concentration-dependent. The lethal effects were prominent in biosynthesized AgNPs, whereas sub-lethal and teratogenic effects like lordosis, scoliosis, pericardial edema, yolk sac edema, head malformation, tail malformation, and growth retardation were expressed in 79% of the embryos. Pericardial edema and Tail malformation were the most prevalent in higher concentrations signifying the possible alteration of WNT genes. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed strong bactericidal activity. This study opens up newer dimensions in the advancement of the studies on the toxicity of nanosynthesised plant extracts.