Repeated toxicological study and cardiotoxicity of hydroalcoholic root extract of Paullinia pinnata L (Sapindaceae).

Paullinia pinnata L. is a plant widely used in African traditional medicine especially in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This study aims to evaluate the cardiotoxicity of 50% hydroalcoholic extract of the roots of P. pinnata. The result of the acute toxicity test has shown a LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg. During the 28 days subchronic administration, P. pinnata has increased significantly the relative weight of kidney. P. pinnata has induced also a microcytosis and an isolated hypochromia. Renal injuries were observed with doses of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg; and are noted by the increase in blood urea, creatinine, potassium and chlorine. Cardiac disorders characterized by the increase of creatinine phosphokinase with P. pinnata at 800 mg/kg has been noted; as well as cholestasis, characterized by an increase in the ALP at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg. The study conducted on the isolated auricle of guinea pigs, has shown that P. pinnata, at increasing concentrations (0.5 to 2.5 mg/mL) has caused an increase in the force of contraction (positive inotropic effect) and simultaneously a decrease in heart rate (negative chronotropic effect). The positive inotropic effect observed could justify the traditional use of this plant as an aphrodisiac.

Cytotoxicity assessment of aqueous extract from root barks of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. in human intestinal Caco-2 and mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cell lines.

Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br (Asclepiadaceae) is a species widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as sickle cell disease, asthma and cancer. In Burkina Faso, it enter in the composition of FACA® in combination with Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides Lam (Rutaceae), drug used in sickle cell disease treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of aqueous extract of root barks of the plant on cell lines to increase the safe use of FACA®. MTT and Neutral Red assays performed on Caco-2 and Neuro-2a cell lines revealed that aqueous extract from root barks of Calotropis procera are cytotoxic on these cell lines. DNA fragmentation assay on Caco-2 cell showed DNA smearing reflecting a degradation of nuclear material that indicates a possible genotoxicity. Altogether, it comes out that the most sensitive cell line is the human colorectal carcinoma Caco-2 cells. Comparatively the active compounds of Calotropis procera do not affect the mice nervous system cells in the same dramatic extent. Our results strongly suggest that patients under treatment of FACA® must respect doses prescribed in order to avoid adverse side effects on the gastrointestinal tract.