Acute and sub-acute oral toxicities of aqueous leaf extract of Vitex madiensis Oliv. in a guinea pig model.

Vitex madiensis Oliv. is a plant widely used in traditional medicine by healers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The uses of this plant are already known and published but no toxicological investigations have been carried out on this plant to determine its safety. This study, conducted in April 2019, aimed to determine the toxicity profile of the aqueous extract of Vitex madiensis by determining its acute and sub-acute toxicities after oral administration in a male guinea pig model. For the acute toxicity, in adult guinea pigs, single oral administration of the aqueous extract of Vitex madiensis (1; 2; and 3 g/kg body weight) was administered, and general poisoning behaviors such as alopecia, abdominal bloating, weight loss, asthenia, convulsion, etc. was constantly monitored for 14 days. The oral lethal dose 50 was determined with the mortality rate by the Dragstedt and Lang method. In sub-acute toxicity, a daily single oral dose of Vitex madiensis aqueous extract 0.1 g/kg (human dose used in traditional medicine) and 1 g/kg (about the LD 50) was used for 28 days. The LD 50 calculated was 1.4 g/kg with change in mobility behavior, weight loss, alopecia, asthenia, convulsion, and bloating of the abdomen. After 28 days of observation, the aqueous extract of Vitex madiensis induced significant changes in body weights. However, hematological, and biochemical parameters showed a significant decrease in ALT, AST, and creatinine levels suggesting disturbances of haemopoiesis, liver, and kidney functions. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that the aqueous leaf extract of Vitex madiensis has a moderated toxicity for single oral administration and could be dangerous for daily use of doses higher than those used in traditional medicine (0.1 g/kg). This would justify the nontoxic use of this plant under the traditional condition utilizations. [Display omitted] • Many changes in behavior signs of intoxication with high doses of V. madiensis. • Acute and subacute toxicity of the aqueous extract of this plant on Cavia porcellus L. is currently known. • Vitex madiensis is moderately toxic orally at a single dose. • This plant is dangerous in repeated doses in 28 days. • Hematological and biochemical parameters showed a significant decrease in transaminase enzymes. • First toxicity assessment of V. madiensis on Cavia porcellus L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]