Evaluation of the toxicological effects of the aqueous extract of the kernels of Tetracarpidium conophorum (Mull. Arg.) & Dalz in laboratory animals

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to assess the toxicological effects of the aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum kernels in rodents. To assess the acute toxicity, mice were given the aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum kernels (5000 mg/kg) orally for 14 days. Subacute toxicity of aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum kernels (250 and 500 mg/kg) in rats was tested for 28 days. The results of the acute toxicity study showed that oral administration of the aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum kernels (5000 mg/kg) did not alter the general behavior of mice, and did not cause mortality in mice at a dose of 5000 mg/kg. The aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum kernels, at the doses studied during 28 days of treatment in rats, significantly reduced serum transaminase levels (ALAT and ASAT) compared with negative controls. These levels went from: 97.7±2.28; 98.06±2.46 IU/L (negative control) to 69.44±4.09; 70.44±3.51 IU/L (p< 0.01), a reduction of 28.26% and 27.62% respectively in rats treated with Tetracarpidium conophorum. The aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum kernels in rats significantly increased white and red blood cell levels: 14.93±0.39; 10.96±0.31 (103/mm3) (p< 0.05) versus 7.41±0.11 (103/mm3) in the negative control. However, the drop in serum transaminase levels and the increase in blood cells suggest that this extract may have hepato-protective and immunostimulant effects.