Current Role of the Zebrafish Experimental Model in Pharmacological Evaluations of Drugs: Current and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Introduction: The zebrafish (Danio rerio), which lives in tropical freshwater, is thought to be one of the best animal models for studying drugs and their effects. This model is unique for its fast growth, clear embryos, genetic similarity to humans, and low cost for experiments. Literature-based data were gathered and shared so that future researchers in the field of pharmacology could get an idea of what kind of work could be done.

Methods: Journal sources like Scopus, Springer, MDPI, and PubMed were used. Seventy-four research papers from 2000 to 2025 were reviewed, but some from before 2020 were added because they were more scientifically sound. Articles about fish that aren't zebrafish were left out.

Results: In order to perform preclinical investigations of several ailments, including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders, researchers are using zebrafish as an animal model. The reason behind its use is its similar genetic pattern, similar physiology, rapid development, and optical transparency.

Discussion: Researchers have found heart-healthy phospholipids, antitumor peptides, and anti-diabetic chemicals in zebrafish models, which makes them a great way to study human pathophysiology. In vivo studies using zebrafish are also easy to expand and cost-effective.

Conclusion: The emerging zebrafish model is indispensable for translational investigation. This model works as a bridge connecting in vitro assays to mammalian models. The present article is an attempt to showcase the current perspective on the pharmacological model in view of drug discovery involving zebrafish.

Keywords: High-throughput screening; Zebrafish (Danio rerio).; biomedical research; drug discovery; toxicity assessment.