Toxicity assessment of a phytomedicine based on an almond extract from the fruit of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) DELILE (Zygophyllaceae) intended for helminthiases care in Burkina Faso
Abstract
Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (Zygophyllaceae) is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso to treat helminthiasis. Using an ethnopharmacological approach, the "Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS)" has developed a phytomedicine based on an almond extract from the fruit of this plant for the treatment of helminthiasis. This study aimed to assess the acute and subacute oral toxicity and in vivo mutagenicity of phytomedicine. The acute toxicity study was carried out following OECD guideline 423 by administering a single dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw) of phytomedicine orally to female mice. For subacute toxicity, OECD guideline 407 was used. Four batches of 10 rats (5 males and 5 females) were used, including a control batch and three treated batches receiving a daily oral administration of the phytomedicine at doses of 250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg bw for 28 days. The mutagenicity test was performed according to OECD guideline 474; five batches of 10 mice (5 males and 5 females) were given oral doses of 500, 1000 or 2000 mg/kg bw of phytomedicine, colchicine as a positive control at 5mg/kg bw and distilled water as a negative control. In the acute toxicity test, the LD50 was estimated at 5000 mg/kg bw. The subacute toxicity study showed no mortality or signs of toxicity in rats. Biochemical analysis revealed no significant differences between control rats and those treated with the phytomedicine for glucose, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, AST, chlorine, calcium, and potassium. On the other hand, serum levels of ALT, total protein, PO43-, and Na+ were significantly reduced in some treated rats. The mutagenicity test showed no change in micronucleus frequency between treated and control mice. This study showed that phytomedicine based on an extract of B. aegyptiaca fines would present less danger to users.
Keywords: Balanites aegyptiaca, acute toxicity, subacute toxicity, micronucleated erythrocytes, phytomedicine.
Keywords:
Balanites aegyptiaca, acute toxicity, subacute toxicity, micronucleated erythrocytes, phytomedicineDOI
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Copyright (c) 2025 Geoffroy Gueswindé OUEDRAOGO , Bonewendé Mohamed BELEMLILGA , Tombègou KOUGUILIMA , Gaétan Donzèo SOMDA , Sylvain ILBOUDO , Salfo OUEDRAOGO , Aristide TRAORE , Lazare BELEMNABA , Félix Bondo KINI , Sylvin OUEDRAOGO

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