Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the 90 day sub-chronic toxicity of aqueous extract of Gmelina arborea leaves in Wistar rats.
 Methods: Rats were submitted to repeated daily oral administration of extract (250, 62.5 and 15.62 mg/kg) of Gmelina arborea leaves. The control groups were given distilled water and the rats were monitored for any toxicity symptoms as well as body and organs weights, water and food intake changes. The biochemical, haematological and histolopathological parameters were analysed.
 Results: The 90 days administration of the aqueous extract did not produce any toxicity signs or mortality. In addition, no significant alteration in water or food intake by the rats was observed. Although there were no changes in the body weights, significant decrease in the weight of the kidneys of the rats was observed at 250 mg/kg. Biological parameters as well as the histopathology of liver and kidneys were not significantly affected. Significant decreases were noted in glucose level at the three dose levels. In addition, significant difference in the levels of transaminases, glucose and platelets were observed.
 Conclusion: The 90-days subchronic toxicity test on Gmelina arborea did not produce any toxic effects. This confirms the safety of the plant leaves by traditional medicine practitioners.
 Keywords: Gmelina arborea, Subchronic toxicity, Wistars rats, Biological parameters
Highlights
The World Health Organization recommended that toxicity investigations is vital in the use of herbal medicines for treating many ailments, little attention is often paid to the longterm safety of the herbs by many traditional healers [1]
The purpose of this study was to assess the 90-daysubchronic toxicity of the aqueous extract of G. arborea leaves in Wistar rats
No remarkable changes were recorded in the general behavior or other physiological activities in treated rats when compared to the control group
Summary
The World Health Organization recommended that toxicity investigations is vital in the use of herbal medicines for treating many ailments, little attention is often paid to the longterm safety of the herbs by many traditional healers [1]. Only limited data are available about the safety of most commonly used medicinal plants [2]. The purpose of this study was to assess the 90-daysubchronic toxicity of the aqueous extract of G. arborea leaves in Wistar rats. Leaves of G. arborea were harvested at Abomey-Calavi near Cotonou in the south of Benin republic. The leaves were washed and immediately air-dried for 10 days at 20 °C and ground into powder. Some of the powder (150g) was mixed with 500ml of distilled water and extracted at 80 °C for 30 minutes. The dried residual extract was kept airtight and refrigerated
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