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. 2023 Aug 2;21(8):437.
doi: 10.3390/md21080437.

Surf Redfish-Based ZnO-NPs and Their Biological Activity with Reference to Their Non-Target Toxicity

Ahmed I Hasaballah  1 , Hussein A El-Naggar  1 , Ibrahim E Abd-El Rahman  2 , Fatimah Al-Otibi  3 , Reham M Alahmadi  3 , Othman F Abdelzaher  1 , Mohamed H Kalaba  4 , Basma H Amin  5 , Mohamed M Mabrouk  6 , Ahmed G A Gewida  6 , Marwa F Abd El-Kader  7 , Mostafa A Elbahnasawy  4
Affiliations

Surf Redfish-Based ZnO-NPs and Their Biological Activity with Reference to Their Non-Target Toxicity

Ahmed I Hasaballah et al. Mar Drugs. .

Abstract

The marine environment is a rich source of bioactive compounds. Therefore, the sea cucumber was isolated from the Red Sea at the Al-Ain Al-Sokhna coast and it was identified as surf redfish (Actinopyga mauritiana). The aqueous extract of the surf redfish was utilized as an ecofriendly, novel and sustainable approach to fabricate zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). The biosynthesized ZnO-NPs were physico-chemically characterized and evaluated for their possible antibacterial and insecticidal activities. Additionally, their safety in the non-target organism model (Nile tilapia fish) was also investigated. ZnO-NPs were spherical with an average size of 24.69 ± 11.61 nm and had a peak at 350 nm as shown by TEM and UV-Vis, respectively. XRD analysis indicated a crystalline phase of ZnO-NPs with an average size of 21.7 nm. The FTIR pattern showed biological residues from the surf redfish extract, highlighting their potential role in the biosynthesis process. DLS indicated a negative zeta potential (-19.2 mV) of the ZnO-NPs which is a good preliminary indicator for their stability. ZnO-NPs showed larvicidal activity against mosquito Culex pipiens (LC50 = 15.412 ppm and LC90 = 52.745 ppm) and a potent adulticidal effect to the housefly Musca domestica (LD50 = 21.132 ppm and LD90 = 84.930 ppm). Tested concentrations of ZnO-NPs showed strong activity against the 3rd larval instar. Topical assays revealed dose-dependent adulticidal activity against M. domestica after 24 h of treatment with ZnO-NPs. ZnO-NPs presented a wide antibacterial activity against two fish-pathogen bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas hydrophila. Histopathological and hematological investigations of the non-target organism, Nile tilapia fish exposed to 75-600 ppm ZnO-NPs provide dose-dependent impacts. Overall, data highlighted the potential applications of surf redfish-mediated ZnO-NPs as an effective and safe way to control mosquitoes, houseflies and fish pathogenic bacteria.

Keywords: ZnO-NPs; adulticidal; antibacterial; larvicidal; non-target organism; sea cucumber; surf redfish.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sea cucumber; Actinopyga mauritiana (surf redfish).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Physico-chemical characterization of biosynthesized ZnO-NPs by surf redfish extract. (A) UV-visible spectrum of ZnO-NPs. (B) TEM images of ZnO-NPs (scale bar = 100 nm), (C) XRD analysis of ZnO-NPs. (D) Zeta potential of ZnO-NPs (Mean zeta potential −0.0192 V, Standard deviation 0.0009 V, Distribution peak −0.0224 V, and Electrophoretic Mobility −1.4984 μm × cm/Vs). (E) FTIR analysis of ZnO-NPs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Physico-chemical characterization of biosynthesized ZnO-NPs by surf redfish extract. (A) UV-visible spectrum of ZnO-NPs. (B) TEM images of ZnO-NPs (scale bar = 100 nm), (C) XRD analysis of ZnO-NPs. (D) Zeta potential of ZnO-NPs (Mean zeta potential −0.0192 V, Standard deviation 0.0009 V, Distribution peak −0.0224 V, and Electrophoretic Mobility −1.4984 μm × cm/Vs). (E) FTIR analysis of ZnO-NPs.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Antibacterial activity of ZnO-NPs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas hydrophila using agar diffusion assay. NPs: of ZnO-NPs, C: Chloramphenicol, F: sea cucumber (surf redfish) aqueous extract, S: zinc acetate solution. Measurements were performed in triplicates for each sample.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Photomicrographs of the gills of the Nile tilapia fish, Oreochromis niloticus. (A) Control gills showing secondary lamellae (black arrow), primary lamellae (red arrow) epithelial cells (green arrow) and mucous cells (yellow arrow), (B) Treated group by 75 ppm ZnO-NPs showing vasodilation (yellow arrow) vacuolation (blue arrow) fusion of adjacent lamellae (black arrowhead), (black arrowhead), (C) 150 ppm treated group indicating the proliferation of epithelium with fusion of adjacent lamellae (black star), normal central venous sinus (yellow arrow), cytoplasmic vacuolation (black arrow), focal necrosis (red arrow) and congestion of blood vessels of primary filaments filling with inflammatory cells (green arrow), (D) 300 ppm treated group showing hypotrophy (green arrow), mild fusion of lamellae (red star), evident epithelium interstitial edema (red arrow), and (E) 600 ppm treated group showing extensive fusion of adjacent lamellae with proliferation of filamentary epithelium (red star), edema (green arrow), hemorrhage (red arrow) necrosis (black arrow). Stain H&E. Scale bar = 50 μm.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Photomicrograph of hepatopancreas of the Nile tilapia fish, Oreochromis niloticus showing the normal histological structure in the control group (A). (B) 75 ppm treated group showing vacuolation (black arrows), necrosis (red star), pycnotic nucleus (red arrow) with congested blood vessel (green arrow), (C) 150 ppm treated group demonstrating pancreatic degeneration (yellow arrow) necrosis (red star), cytoplasmic vacuolation (black arrow) and congestion of hepatic blood sinusoids (red arrow), (D) 300 ppm treated group showing congested central vein with melanomacrophages (black arrow), increased kupffer cell (yellow arrow), indistinct cell boundaries (green arrow) and focal necrosis (red star), and (E) 600 ppm treated group detecting the hepatocyte appeared hypertrophy (yellow arrow), moderate focal necrosis area (red star), apoptotic cell (green arrow) and the blood vessel noted sever dilated (black arrow). Stain H&E. scale bar = 50 μm.
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