Ethno-medicinal Use of Crotalaria retusa L. (Fabaceae), a Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Toxic Plant

Objective:This current study was designed to investigate the ethno-medicinal uses of C. retusaand to learn about the knowledges of its toxicity. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to herbalists and traditional healers from Ouagadougou town in national language Mooré or Dioula. Data on the ethno-medicinal use of C. retusa, the plant part used, the modes of preparation and administration and the knowledges on its toxicity were collected for each interviewed respondents. Relative frequency of citation of each disease was calculated using Microsoft Excel softwareResults: C. retusais mentioned by all the respondents to be used in the folklore system of medicine for the treat of various diseases including infectious and psychotropic diseases. Nine (09) diseases treated with C. retusa have been cited by respondents. The most diseases cited were congenital syphilis (72.5%) followed by malaria (7.5%)and hallucinations (7.5%). The whole plantis more used and the decoction is the main form of preparation. The main modes of the administration of the drug were purgative, drink and bath. The toxicity of C. retusa hasn’t been stated by no respondents.Conclusion:C. retusa is a potent medicinal plant of the folklore system medicine of Burkina Faso.A general lack of knowledge on the potential toxicity of this plant among the herbalists and traditional healers is also evident. Further investigations are necessary to inform about the toxicity of this plant and preventive measures to undertake for the prevention of any intoxication.

Antioxidant capacity and genoprotective effect of ethanol fruit extract from Detarium microcarpum Guill. and Perr. (Caesalpiniaceae)

Objective To evidence the ability of ethanol fruit extract from Detarium microcarpum (D. microcarpum) to preserve DNA integrity against oxidative genomic damage. Methods Ethanol extract from D. microcarpum fruit pulp was analyzed for its antioxidant capacity using ferric reducing antioxidant power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethyl-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate, superoxide anion, deoxyribose degradation and lipid peroxidation models. The genoprotective activity was assessed ex vivo by comet assay, on liver cells of NMRI female mice using cyclophosphamide (CP) as genotoxic agent. Results Ethanol extract from D. microcarpum fruit pulp exhibited interesting antioxidant activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, deoxyribose degradation and lipid peroxidation assays. The extract did not present any genotoxic effect but protected DNA against CP-induced damages with a dose-dependent manner. The genoprotective effect observed was related to the antioxidant molecules of the fruit that scavenged the hydroxyl radical (generated by the metabolism of CP) as well as the peroxyl and alkoxyl radicals issued from lipid peroxidation. Other mechanisms such as inactivation of CP metabolism to genotoxic end products, induction of the expression of antioxidant and DNA repair enzymes have been discussed. Conclusions Our results suggest that the wild edible fruit from D. microcarpum could be beneficial on consumer's health by its antioxidant and genoprotective effects, particularly during chemotherapies exhibiting genotoxic effects like CP in cancer treatment.