In vitro and in vivo Evaluation of the Toxicity Roots of Leptadeniahastata (PER) Decne. Cytotoxicity on Caco2 and HepG2 Cells, Acute and Subacute Toxicity on Wistar Rats

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English. Background : Nowadays, the use of medicinal plants,for treatment of several pathologies, continues to gaingrounds throughout the world. Leptadeniahastata, likeother medicinal plants, isused as therapeutic agent forseveral pathological conditions including diabetes mellitus,diarrhoea, and prostatitis, among other, however, limiteddata on its toxicity are available.This study aims to evaluate the safety of the L. hastata rootextract by in vitro and in vivo tests.Methods: Cytotoxicity and possible apoptosis on Caco 2and HepG 2 cells were assessed by MTT, Neutral Red, LDHactivity and DNA fragmentation assays. The in vivo studywas carried out in albino Wistar rats by administering themethanolic extract of L. hastata by gavages, followed bydetermination of the Lethal Dose 50 (LD50), and the NoObservable Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) to get an idea ofits acute and subacutetoxicity.Results: The current study showed a low cytotoxicity effectwith an IC50 greater than 200 μg/mL regardless of cell typeand without apoptosis. The acute toxicity of L.hastata’sroots is practically low since the LD 50 is greater than2000 mg/kg. However, the results showed a sub-acutetoxicity that manifested itself in deaths and disorders ofthe digestive system, particularly of the stomach. Althoughmortality of animals were recorded from the first week aswell as inflammation and mutilation of the limbs. Biologicaland histological changes in the liver and kidneys were alsoobserved. The histological changes detected in the liverwere mainly necrotic areas, but also hepatic degeneration,microangiopathy lesions and neutrophil infiltrate. Inthe kidney, minimal tubular vacuolation and glomerularretraction were observed. The stomach showed onlyepithelial scaling. The NOAEL was estimated to be 100 mg/kg for our study.Conclusion: Even though medicinal plants are generallyconsidered to be safe; however, mispractice in its use couldbe harmful to health; as effects observed could be attributedto the action of L. hastata roots’ extracts.