Acute and subchronic oral toxicity assessment of the aqueous extract from the stem bark of Erythrina senegalensis DC (Fabaceae) in rodents

Abstract

The decoction of the stem bark of Erythrina senegalensis (EAES) is traditionally used in the Western region of Cameroon against liver disorders. The present study evaluated the potential toxicity of this decoction after acute and sub-chronic administration in rodents. In acute study, a single administration of EAES was given orally to mice at doses ranging from 1.25 to 12.5 g/kg. General behaviour, adverse effects and mortality were determined for up to 14 days post treatment. In the sub-chronic study, EAES was given orally as a single administration to Wistar rats at doses of 300, 600 and 1,200 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Animal body weight was observed throughout the experimental period while haematological and biochemical parameters of blood and urine, as well as kidney and liver tissues histology were evaluated at the end of the experiment. In the acute study in mice, none of the doses used induced mortality or significant behavioural changes. In the sub-chronic study in rats, daily oral administration of EAES at the dose of 600 mg/kg resulted in a significant increase in the relative body weight at the last week of treatment. The relative weights of organs were not affected by the treatment. No haematological changes were observed a part of a significant increase in WBC count at the dose of 600 mg/kg. Serum AST, ALT, ALP, total protein, total cholesterol and triglycerides decreased significantly while total and conjugated bilirubin significantly increased. Renal function indices assay in blood showed significant modification in all the treated groups compared to control while, in urine, only urea excretion markedly reduced at a dose of 1,200 mg/kg. Histological analysis did no show any liver or kidney alteration. These results demonstrated that there is a wide margin of safety for the therapeutic use of EAES and further corroborated the traditional use of this extract as a hepatoprotective agent.