Acute and subacute toxicities of an aqueous leaves extract of Ceiba pentadra (bombacaceae), a antihypertensive plant, and its ethanolic fraction in wistar rats

Abstract

Ceiba pentandra is an African pharmacopoeia plant known for its antihypertensive properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral toxicity of the aqueous leaves extract of Ceiba pentandra (EAqCp) and its ethanolic fraction (F1). These toxicity tests were carried out in accordance with guidelines 423 and 407 of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Extracts of EAqCp and F1 were administered as a single dose (2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight (BW)) and continuously (200, 400, 800 and 1000 mg/kg B.W) for 28 days, enabling a serial of haematological and biochemical analyses to be carried out. The results of the tests and analyses show that EAqCp and F1 are non-toxic and have a lethal dose 50% (LD50) greater than 5000 mg/kg B.W. This absence of oral toxicity would argue in favour of its use in various therapies in traditional medicine.