Abstract
Copper sulfate (CuSO4) as industrial effluent is intentionally or unintentionally released into water bodies and accumulates in the fish. Because of its numerous applications, CuSO4 can be hazardous to non-target creatures, producing direct alterations in fish habitats. Acacetin is a flavonoid present in all vascular plants that are extensively dispersed in plant pigments and responsible for many natural hues. However, the impact of acacetin on mitigating the toxic effect of CuSO4 in the in-vivo conditions is not known. The toxicity of acacetin was determined by measuring the survival, deformities and heart rate after treatment with various concentrations to larvae. The protective effect of acacetin was also observed in CuSO4 exposed zebrafish larvae by reducing malformation, mortality rate and oxidative stress. Meanwhile, the acacetin-protected larvae from CuSO4 effects through the molecular mechanism by suppressing pro-inflammatory genes (COX-2, TNF-alpha and IL-1) and upregulating antioxidant genes (GPx, GST and GR). Overall, our findings suggest that acacetin can act as a protective barrier against CuSO4-induced inflammation in an in-vivo zebrafish larval model.