World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE TOXICITY OF CRASSOCEPHALUM BAUCHIENSE AQUEOUS EXTRACT IN FEMALE WISTAR RATS

M.D. Yemelea,b, S.N. Njinaa, L. L. Lienoua, H.S.I., Mapona, M. Tsagueb, P.B. Telefoa* and P.F., Moundipac

ABSTRACT

Background: Crassocephalum bauchiense is a commonly used medicinal plant in Menoua Division (west-Cameroun) traditional medicine for the treatment of pregnancy and childbirth discomfort, but there is no report on its safety or toxicity. Therefore, we evaluated the toxicity profile of the aqueous Stem and leaves extract of Crassocephalum bauchiense in female Wistar rats. Method: Acute toxicity test was performed with single oral administration of 5000 mg/kg body weight of Crassocephalum bauchiense aqueous extract (CBAE) to rats and the animals were observed for 14 days for signs of toxicity. The subacute toxicity experiment was conducted by oral administration of graded doses (60, 240, and 960mg/kg) of CBAE daily for 28 days. Behavioural changes as well as haematological, biochemical, and histological parameters were then evaluated. Results: There was no observable sign of toxicity in the acute toxicity test. There were significant. decreases (???? < 0.05) in the feed intake on days 4 and 8 of treatment at the doses 960 mg/kg. Also, a significant decrease of lymphocytes percentage associate to an increase of those of granulocytes was observed in all treated groups comparatively to control. Only moderate vascular congestion was registered on liver histology of rats treated with highest doses. CBAE significantly decreased in levels of LDL (p<0.001), serum sodium (P<0.01; p<0.05) urinary potassium (P<0.001; p<0.01) and increased in levels of triglycerides (p<0.01) and liver proteins (p<0.05) in all treated animals. For others parameters, there were no treatment related differences. Conclusions: Administration of CBAE may be safe at the therapeutic dose but its continuous consumption at the dose of 240mg/kg may be lead to an decrease of the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

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