Psorospermum febrifugum Spach (Clusiaceae) was a tropical plant whose root bark was used to treat anemia. This work aimed to evaluate the safety of the ethyl acetate fraction of the aqueous extract of this bark. Methods: The ethyl acetate fraction of the extract was administered to Wistar rats in a single dose of 2000 mg / Kg body weight for acute oral toxicity test or daily doses of 200 mg / Kg of body weight during 28 days for sub-chronic oral toxicity test, as recommended by the OECD. At day 0, then at day 14 for the acute phase and day 28 for the sub-chronic phase, the rats were weighed and their blood collected for tests. The activity of transaminases AST and ALT were measured in the liver function tests, blood urea and creatinine were measured for renal function tests and blood leukocytes were counted for the immune balance. These analyzes were supplemented by the histology of the liver, kidneys and spleen, an immune organ. Results: In acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity tests, rat’s weight, liver, kidney and immune balances as well as these organs histology were not affected, suggesting the safety of the extract fraction. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of the aqueous extract of the root bark of Psorospermum febrifugum did not reveal any acute or sub-chronic oral toxicity. This effect could be related to its richness in flavonoids which have cytoprotective effects. The study of biological tolerance deserves to be continued by the chronic toxicity test and appropriate clinical trials.

Objective: Cocos nucifera (coconut tree) is a tropical plant whose roots were used in Benin to treat anaemia. These roots contain anthocyanins, which are isolated by butanol. This work aimed to test the safety of the butanolic fraction of this root extract. Methodology and results: Acute oral toxicity (AOT) and subchronic (SCT) tests were performed by gavage Wistar rats with the fraction of the extract at a single dose of 2000 mg / Kg of weight for the AOT and of 200 mg / Kg / Day for 28 days for SCT. At D0 and on D14 for the AOT and on D28 for the SCT, the rats were weighed and sampled for assay of transaminases AST and ALT, uraemia, creatinine, blood leukocyte counts and liver, kidneys and spleen histology. These analyses did not show any abnormalities. The butanol fraction of the aqueous extract of Cocos nucifera roots did not show acute or sub-chronic oral toxicity. The physical balance assessed by the behaviour and weight of rats was normal. Liver function tests performed by transaminases AST and ALT improved. Renal balance conducted by uraemia and creatinine was normal. The immune status determined by the number of blood leukocytes was normal. These functional observations were confirmed by the histology of the liver, kidneys and spleen, which did not show any morphological atypia of these organs. Conclusion and application of results: The lack of toxicity at the acute or subchronic stage may be related to anthocyanins contained therein and some of which were known to be non-toxic. This result opened up great prospects for testing various biological properties, in particular the hematopoietic activity of this butanolic fraction of Cocos nucifera root extract which will be used as an improved traditional medicine. Key words: Cocos nucifera, butanol, safety. Tchogou et al., J. Appl. Biosci. 2021 Safety of the butanol fraction of Cocos nucifera roots aqueous extract in vivo. 16283 RÉSUMÉ Objectif : Cocos nucifera est une plante tropicale dont les racines sont utilisées au Bénin pour soigner l’anémie. Ces racines contiennent les anthocyanes qui sont isolés par le butanol. Ce travail se propose de tester l’innocuité de la fraction butanolique de cet extrait de racines. Méthodologie et résultats : Les Tests de toxicité orale aigüe (TOA) et subchronique (TSC) ont été effectués par gavage de rats Wistar avec la fraction d’extrait à la dose unique de 2000 mg/Kg de poids pour la TOA et de 200 mg/Kg/Jour pendant 28 jours pour la TSC. A J0, puis à J14 pour le TAO et à J28 pour le TSC, les rats ont été pesés puis prélevés pour le dosage des transaminases ASAT et ALAT, l’urémie, la créatininémie, la numération des leucocytes sanguins et l’histologie du foie, des reins et de la rate. Ces analyses n’ont pas montré d’anomalies. La fraction butanolique de l’extrait aqueux de racines de Cocos nucifera n’a pas révélé de toxicité orale aiguë ou sub-chronique. Le bilan physique évalué par le comportement et le poids des rats est normal. Le bilan hépatique effectué par les transaminases ASAT et ALAT est amélioré. Le bilan rénal réalisé par l’urémie et la créatininémie est normal. Le bilan immunitaire déterminé par le nombre de leucocytes sanguins est normal. Ces observations fonctionnelles sont confirmées par l’histologie du foie, des reins et de la rate qui n’a pas montré d’atypies morphologiques de ces organes. Conclusion et application des résultats :L’absence de toxicité orale à l’état aigu ou subchronique serait liée aux anthocyanes qui y sont contenus et dont certains sont connus comme étant non toxiques. Ce résultat ouvre de belles perspectives pour tester diverses propriétés biologiques, notamment l’activité hématopoïétique de cette fraction butanolique de l’extrait de racines de Cocos nucifera qui sera utilisé comme medicament tradiotionnel amélioré. Mots clés : Cocos nucifera, butanol, innocuité.

Cocos nucifera was a coastal plant whose roots were used in pharmacopoeia to treat anemia in Benin. The aqueous extract from its roots stimulated the synthesis of hemoglobin. The aim of this work was to test in vivo the efficacy of the butanolic fraction of the extract in the treatment of anemia. Methods: Wistar rats were anemic with phenylhydrazine for two days. From D2 to D15, some were treated by gavage with the butanolic fraction of the aqueous extract of Cocos nucifera roots at the dose of 40 mg or 60 mg / kg of body weight / day, others were treated with vitafer (an anti-anemic drug) or with distilled water. The rats blood were collected on days D0, D2, D7, D10 and D15 for the complete blood count and the osmotic resistance of the red blood cells. Results: On D2, phenylhydrazine significantly lowered the hemoglobin level and the number of red blood cells, which were respectively corrected on D10 and D15 by the fraction of extract with release of hypochromic macrocytes. However, the effect was slower than that of the crude extract, was not specific to erythropoiesis because it also stimulated thrombopoiesis and was not dose-dependent. Conclusion: The butanolic fraction of the aqueous extract of Cocos nucifera roots corrected anemia by stimulation of hematopoiesis. The observed biological activity would probably be linked to anthocyanins which are mainly isolated by butanol. These results contribute to a better knowledge of bioactive compounds of our antianemic plants.