ABSTRACT

Datura stramonium is known for its psychoactive and medicinal properties which are due to tropane alkaloids like atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine. This study aimed to evaluate  the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Datura stramonium on the glob1 and dpp genes in Drosophila melanogaster. Adult Drosophila melanogaster flies were divided into four groups, each fed diets supplemented with different concentrations of Datura stramonium aqueous leaf extract (0 mg/kg, 2000 mg/kg, 4000 mg/kg, and 8000 mg/kg). Survival rates were monitored over 21 days. Gene expression analysis for glob1 and dpp was performed using semi-quantitative Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and band intensities were measured densitometrically. Statistical analyses were conducted using graphpad prism 8.0 (California, USA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare treatment groups of continuous variables. Results showed a dose-dependent upregulation of glob1 mRNA in all groups administered with Datura stramonium aqueous leaf extract compared to the control group. Significant increases (p < 0.05) in glob1 expression were observed in flies exposed to 4000 mg/kg and 8000 mg/kg, compared to controls. Conversely, there was a significant repression of dpp mRNA in all groups administered Datura stramonium aqueous leaf extract when compared to the control group. the group administered 2000mg/kg (50.7 ± 0.65) and 8000mg/kg (50.1 ± 1.67) show a very significant repression (p<0.01) of dpp mRNA when compared to the control group (65.1 ± 1.64). The survival analysis demonstrated a dose-dependent toxicity, there was a significant (p=0.0151) reduction in the survival rate when compared to the control group. On day 21, the control group exhibited a 94.74% survival rate, while the 2000 mg/kg, 4000 mg/kg, and 8000 mg/kg groups showed survival rates of 48.87%, 20.13%, and 0.0%, respectively. In conclusion, Datura stramonium extract exerts dose-dependent toxic effects on Drosophila melanogaster, marked by glob1 upregulation, dpp repression, and reduced survival, highlighting its oxidative and developmental impact