Safety of the Ethanolic Extract Crateva adansonii DC. (Capparidaceae) Harvested at Dassa-Zounm? in Central Benin

Medicinal plants are widely used worldwide by populations and are a source of new active components. The objective of this work is to assess the toxicity of the ethanolic extract of this plant in order to promote its use in traditional medicine in Benin. Method: The ethanolic extract was obtained after evaporation of the filtrate under vacuum on a rotary evaporator. The toxicity studies took into account on the one hand the determination of heavy metals (Pb, Cd and As) on the other hand the Acute and subacute Toxicities which were carried out according to the OECD guidelines respectively Standards 423 and 407 on Wistar strain female rats. Blood samples were taken from animals for hematological and biochemical analyzes. Finally the organs (liver and kidney) were removed for histological readings. Results: The study of the acute oral toxicity of the ethanolic extract of Crateva adansonii at the single dose of 5.000 mg. kg-1 of body weight recorded no death or sign of toxicity during the 14 days of the experimental period. . This shows that the LD50 of our extract is greater than 5.000 mg. kg-1 pc. As for the subchronic toxicity, it revealed that whatever the dose of the extract administered, no signs of intoxication were observed during the 28 days. The extract Crateva adansonii is therefore not lethal. With the exception of a few rare tubular vacuolar degenerations, rats present a hepatic and renal histological appearance within normal limits. Conclusion: This allows us to conclude the ad hoc use of Crateva adansonii is safe but its prolonged use can be harmful to the human organism.