Phytochemical screening and acute toxicity assessment of leaves from Piliostigma thonningii (Fabaceae), a plant used in traditional medicine against diabetes in Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

In Côte d'Ivoire, the prevalence rate of diabetes is 9.6%. This rate is high and worrying. However, there is no satisfactory therapy for this pathology described as a "silent killer". It is therefore essential to find an alternative through the heritage of plant resources used in traditional medicine. The decoction of Piliostigma thonningii leaves is frequently used by Ivorian traditional therapists. This study focuses on this plant species by performing a phytochemical screening and evaluating the acute toxicity of aqueous extracts from the plant's leaves. In laboratory, the phytomedicine was explored for its pharmacodynamic effects. After fasting the mice for 12 hours, the stock solution of 200 mg/ml was administered by gavage at a volume of 0.6 ml per 20 grams of body weight. The toxicological study showed that the aqueous extract from leaves of Piliostigma thonningii did not show toxic effect on the animals. The phytochemical screening of the tested sample in Pharmacodynamics revealed various chemical groups: alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, polyphenols, quinones, saponosides and catechic tannins. Polyphenols, alkaloids and flavonoids are believed to be responsible for the anti-diabetic activity. This preliminary verification, based on pharmacological and phytochemical tests, confirms the traditional therapeutic use of the tested plant.