Bioativo LCCtL: avaliação ecotoxicológica, embriotóxica e genotóxica para uso potencial no controle de Aedes aegypti

Abstract

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is one of the main vectors of arboviruses such as Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya, posing a public health concern as it affects the lives of thousands of people every year. Therefore, it is extremely important to seek natural alternatives for vector control. One such alternative is Technical Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (tCNSL), which has recognized larvicidal activity against this vector. However, its hydrophobicity limits its application in aquatic environments. To overcome this limitation, a self emulsifying formulation of tCNSL with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate was developed, named LCCtL, aiming to improve its solubility without compromising its larvicidal effectiveness. LCCtL demonstrated confirmed larvicidal activity with a 24 h-LC₅₀ of 9.59 mg/L. Thus, the present study evaluated the environmental safety of the bioactive LCCtL through ecotoxicological and genotoxic assays using non-target organisms from different trophic levels. Chronic toxicity tests with Raphidocelis subcapitata, acute toxicity with Daphnia similis, embryotoxicity with Danio rerio, and genotoxicity assessment with Allium cepa were conducted. The results showed that LCCtL presented toxicity classified as acute category I for R. subcapitata and D. similis, and acute category III for D. rerio, indicating greater sensitivity in organisms from lower trophic levels. In the A. cepa test, LCCtL did not induce significant genotoxic effects, with no chromosomal alterations or micronucleus formation observed, even at high concentrations. These findings indicate that LCCtL has the potential to be used as an effective and environmentally safe biolarvicide, representing a sustainable alternative to synthetic insecticides in the control of Ae. aegypti.