Safety study of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Lantana cumara L. (Verbenaceae), a plant used in Benin in the treatment of infections.

Abstract

Subject description : In Benin, many medicinal plants were used by the populations for the treatment of infections. However, these herbal remedies should be used with great caution as they can be toxic. Objectives: In this perspective, this work consisted in carrying out a study of the Acute Oral Toxicity and the Sub-Chronic Oral Toxicity (TOC) of aqueous extracts from the leaves of Lantana cumara L. (Verbenaceae), a plant widely used in Benin to treat skin infections. Method: Wistar rats were given a single dose of 2000 mg / kg aqueous extract of Lantana cumara leaves by gavage for the Acute Oral Toxicity (TOA) test. For the sub-Chronic Oral Toxicity (TOC) test, rats were force-fed with the extract at a daily dose of 300 mg / kg of body weight per day for 28 days. The weight of the rats was taken and the blood samples collected on Day 0 and then respectively on day 14 for the TOA and Day 28 for the TOC. The renal balance was carried out by assaying serum creatinine, the hepatic balance by AST and ALT transaminases and the haematological balance by the blood count. The liver, kidneys and spleen were removed for histological analysis. The results were analyzed on the Student's test, the significance level set at 5%. Results: The weight of the rats did not vary significantly on acute or subchronic oral toxicity tests suggesting an absence of physical disturbance to the rats. Serum creatinine did not change significantly, suggesting preservation of renal function. The same was the same for the AST and ALT transaminases, indicating an absence of hepatic cytolysis. Hematologically, the hemoglobin level and the number of blood platelets did not change significantly, suggesting that the extract did not create anemia and did not influence blood clotting. The hepatic, renal and splenic parenchyma did not show atypia. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of the leaves of Lantana cumara (L.) did not reveal acute or subchronic toxicity and offers prospects for its use.