Abstract
Author(s): Mbiantcha M*, Nguelefack TB, Ndontsa BL, Tane P and Kamanyi A.
The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the safety of aqueous and methylene chloride/methanol extracts of Crotonmacrostachyusstem bark by determining its potential toxicity. For the cytotoxicity study, the aqueous and organicextracts were administered to larvae of Artemia Sp., the number of death is determined after 6 hours and 24 hours; while for the acute study, the extracts were administered to mice. In the sub-chronic study, the extracts were administered orally for 28 days. In the cytotoxicity study, aqueous and organicextracts showed LC50(lethal concentration 50) values of 569 and 425 μg/ml, respectively. In acute toxicity study, aqueous extract did not provoke death until the dose 16 g/kg; whereas the organicextract caused general behaviours, adverse effects and mortality. Mortality increased with increasing doses, with LD50(lethal dose 50) of 10.2 and 9.4 g/kg b.w. respectively for male and female mice. In the sub-chronic study in rats, we observes a significant variation of ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and proteins serum levels; AST (aspartate aminotransferase) hepatic level. In view of the dose of C. macrostachyusconsumed in traditional medicine, there is a wide argin of safety for the therapeutic use of the extract of Croton macrostachyusstem bark.