Resume |
Aim: To screen the acute a!1d 28-days subchronic toxicity of the leaves aqueous extract of Carissa
edulis (C. edulis).
Design: Experimental and observational study.
Place and Duration: Faculty of health sciences of Cotonou / Institute of Applied Biomedical
Sciences of Cotonou, laboratories of Physiology/Human biologyllmmunology/ biochemistry and
molecular biology( pharmacognosy section) / toxicology and hydrology of Dakar (Senegal) between
March 2014 and January 2015.
Methods: The aqueous extract was obtained from the powder of the leaves by a decoction method
and evaporation using a rotavapor. In the acute toxicity study (Limit test), a single dose of 2000
mg/kg of the extract was -«'Jrally administered to three female rats. Different parameters were
assessed according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 423
guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals. During the sub-chronic toxicity, four groups of five rats of
either sex received distilled water (control), 31.25,125 and 500 mg/kg of the extract daily for 28
consecutive days by oral gavage. The assay was conducted according to the OECD 407
guidelines.
Results: ln both acute and sub-chronic toxicity test, neither mortality nor other toxicity symptoms
were observed. This suggests that the median Lethal Dose 50 (LDso) is superior to 2000 mg/kg.
There were no significant differences in the body and organ weights between controls and treated
animais of both sexes. Indeed, sorne biological parameters including erythrocytes (6,89±0,07),
Haematocrit (41 ,6±1 ,69), and Haemoglobin (13,31 ±O,16) levels were significantly reduced when
compared to the control group but this is not imputable pathologically. Histological structures of
liver and kidney were normal in both two sexes.
Conclusion: The aqueous extract of C. edulis was found to be safe in acute and 28-days subchronic
toxicity studies. Furthermore, aspects of the effects of this plant on haematopoiesis, Iiver
and kidney function need to be gained and ascertained over longer periods of toxicity study. |