SUBACUTE TOXICITY OF AQUEOUS AND ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF STEM BARK FROM Trichilia emetica (Meliaceae)

*Djoupo Agnon Prisca, Djyh Bernard Nazaire, Ayebé Edwige Kouadio, Boga Gogo Lucien, Bamba Abou, Zaza Henri Venance and Yapi Houphouët Félix

ABSTRACT

Trichilia emetica is a tropical plant widly found in sub-saharan Africa. Therapeutic use of various parts of this plant has been mentioned in many traditional medicinal systems. Owing to their safety profiles, the aim of the present study was to evaluate subacute toxicity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of steem bark of Trichilia emetica. Serial extraction was done using ethanol and water as solvents. The study was evaluated by daily doses of extracts 500, 800 and 1100 mg/kg orally for 28 days to groups of 6 animals per group including 3 males and 3 females. The control group received no extract. Animals were observed for general behavioral and signs of abnormalities during the experiment duration. The last day, blood was taken for hematological and biochemical analysis. The liver, kidney, and heart tissues were weighed. The results showed that, there were no significant (p˃0,05) changes in both the asolute and relative organ weights between the control and the test groups. Biochemical parameters were statistically equal in all groups. In addition, both extracts did not cause any significant effect on RBC and indices relating to it (Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH and MCHC) throughout the experimental period. But, there was a significant decrease on WBC and percentage of total lymphocytes cells with ethanolic extract at dose of 1100 mg/kg b.w. In conclusion, the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of steem bark from Trichilia emetica did not produce any toxicity in oral suba-cute toxicity study. However, further studies are needed to confirm long term toxicities.

Keywords: subacuty, Trichilia emetica, Haematological and biochemical parameters.