Ethyl acetate fraction of Psorospermum febrifugum Spach aqueous extract did not exhibit acute or sub-chronic toxicity. Experimental study on Wistar rats

Abstract

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.

Safety of the Aqueous Extract of the Leaves of <i>Senna alata</i> (L.) Roxb. (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae), a Plant Used in Benin to Treat Infections

“…The observation was confirmed by histology which showed renal parenchyma with glomeruli, proximal and distal tubules and collecting ducts apparently normal. These results were similar to those of [17] on the bark of Psorospermum febrifugum, an anti-anaemic plant. Carried out a study on Senna alata leaf extract and observed no significant variation in urea, bicarbonate, creatinine of the animals tested.…”