Abstract

Aloe buettneri (Liliaceae), Justicia insularis (Acanthaceae), Hibiscus macranthus (Malvaceae) and Dicliptera verticillata (Acanthaceae) (ADHJ) are medicinal plants generally found in tropical and subtropical areas. The leaf mixture of these plants is used in the Western Region of Cameroon to increase fertility, regularize the menstrual cycle and to treat dysmenorrhoea or cases of infertility in women. In order to evaluate the toxicity of the leaf mixture extract of these plants, the values of their LD₅₀ and LD₁₀₀ were determined in Swiss mice and the subacute toxicity studied in albinos Wistar female rats. The herbal drug induced changes in the physiological (body and vital organ weights), toxicological [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine] and biochemical (total proteins) parameters. The LD₅₀ and LD₁₀₀ were 27 and 32 g/kg in male mice, respectively, whereas in female mice the values were 18 and 24 g/kg, respectively. The leaf mixture of the plants has significantly increased the reproductive organ weights of treated female rats. The serum, uterine and ovarian proteins as well as the creatinine levels was increased significantly, while the hepatic protein level was decreased. The rate of AST remained unchanged whereas that of ALT increased when animals were treated at the dose of 100 mg/kg. These results suggests on one hand that aqueous extract is not short-term poisonous but presents unfavourable effects in the long run (60 days) and on the other hand, the aqueous extract have a direct action on the reproductive organs and cause disturbances on cellular metabolism.

Key words: Toxicity, mice, female rats, toxicological and biochemical parameters.