ROS-Mediated Nematocidal Activity and Reproductive Toxicity of Herbal Extracts in Caenorhabditis elegans

Traditional medicinal plants are a rich source of phytochemicals with diverse biological effects, yet their safety and mechanistic impact on reproductive health remain underexplored. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ruscus hyrcanus, Juniperus oblonga, and Stachys lavandulifolia extracts on survival, fertility, and germline integrity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Through LC-MS analysis, we surprisingly identified that all three extracts contained the same 113 compounds. Our findings indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is a major driver of nematocidal and fertility-reducing effects, while modulation of DNA damage response pathways further contributes to germline defects. These results provide new insights into how phytochemical composition influences oxidative stress and genome stability in vivo. Importantly, this work emphasizes the need to evaluate not only the health-promoting potential but also the safety-related cytotoxicity of phytochemicals, supporting a more balanced assessment of herbal extracts for future nutraceutical and functional food applications.