Study of toxicity of aqueous extract of Psorospermum febrifugum Spach root bark on Wistar rats

摘要

Psorospermum febrifugum Spach was a very common plant in tropical regions. In Benin, its roots bark was effective in curing anemia. The aim of this work was to test the biological tolerance of the aqueous extract of the bark of these roots. On the aqueous root bark extract of the plant, were conducted in vivo acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity tests according to OECD guideline 423. For this purpose, Wistar rats were either force-fed at a dose of 2000 mg extract/kg body weight and monitored for 14 days, or at 200 mg extract/kg body weight daily for 28 days. Blood tests were performed on days 0, 14 and 28 as well as histology of the liver, kidney and spleen. In the acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity tests, the weight of the rats did not change significantly compared to controls. AST and ALT transaminases did not increase suggesting an absence of hepatic cytolysis, confirmed by the normal appearance of the hepatic parenchyma. Uremia and serum creatinine also did not significantly change, indicating no renal dysfunction, confirmed by normal histology of the kidney. The number of blood leukocytes did not significantly vary, suggesting no disturbance of immunity, confirmed by the normal histology of the spleen, a secondary immune organ. So, the aqueous extract of Psorospermum febrifugum root bark did not reveal toxicity. This study deserves to be continued by chronic toxicity tests and clinical trials for transformation into Traditional Improved Medicine (MTA).