Evaluation of the acute and subacute toxicities and of the anti-inflammatory effect of the aqueous extract of the fruits of Grewia coriacea Mast. (Malvaceae) in laboratory rodents

Abstract

The fruits of Grewia coriacea Mast are among the most traded picking fruits and consumed in the Republic of Congo. The objective of this present work was to estimate the toxicity and to evaluate the antiinflammatory effect of the aqueous extract of the fruits of Grewia coriacea Mast. in rats. Thus, the estimation of acute toxicity was carried out in mice in accordance with OECD guideline No. 423 and revealed that the extract is not very toxic with an LD50 greater than 5000 mg/Kg by oral administration. The results obtained from the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity show that the aqueous extract of the fruits of Grewia coricea Mast. reduces edema induced by carrageenan 1 % and formaldehyde 2.5 % respectively by 52.17 % and 73.33 % at a dose of 500 mg/Kg. Other wise, the evaluation of chronic inflammation (formaldehyde 2.5 %) revealed that the extract inhibits the development of edema in rats at a dose of 500mg/Kg with a maximum percentage of 36.13 %. In conclusion, these results justify the consumption of these fruits by the population on the one hand and encourage its use in traditional medicine as a food supplement on the other hand.