Acute and Repeated Dose 28-Day Oral Toxicity Study of the Aqueous Extracts from the Leafy Stem and Fruit of Pedalium murex D.Royen EX.L in Wistar Rats.

Background: Pedalium murex (P. murex) is used in folk medicine for treatment of male infertility. However, scientific data on its safety are limited. Objective: This study was carried out to assess the acute and repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity of the aqueous extracts from P. murex leafy stem and fruit in Wistar rats. Methods: The acute toxicity test was performed according to the line 423 of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines. The rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 3). The control group received distilled water, while the experimental groups were given at a single dose, 5000 mg/kg of each extract. The repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity was performed according to the line 407 of the OECD guidelines. 35 rats divided into 7 groups of 5 male rats each were daily treated for 28 days with each extract at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg, respectively. The in-life parameters were recorded during the follow-up. At the end of this study, organ weights, hematology, biochemistry, and histology parameters were analyzed. Results: In the acute oral toxicity test, there was no morbidity or mortality related to the treatments. Both extracts belong therefore to category 5 of the globally harmonized system (GHS) of classification. In the repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity test, both extracts did not alter animal's behavior. However, both extract administration led to proteinuria and renal damages. Conclusion: P. murex leafy stem and fruit aqueous extracts exhibited potential nephrotoxicity. Therefore, care should be taken when they are used over an extended period.

A comparative study of Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. root extracts on sexual behaviour in male Wistar rats.

Caesalpinia bonduc is among the traditionally used plant in Benin, for its enhancement of male sexual activity. This study was undertaken to investigate the potential effect of C. bonduc root extracts on sexual behaviour of male Wistar rats. For that, thirty-six rats were allocated into six groups and orally treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (control), Sildenafil citrate (standard) and C. bonduc root extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol) orally for twenty-eight days. Sexual behaviour parameters such as intromission frequency, intromission latency, mount latency and mount frequency were evaluated on day 0, 14 and 28. After the study completion, the body and reproductive organ weights as well as testicular histology and testosterone level were recorded. C. bonduc root extracts treatments had no significant effect on the body weight of rats. Enhancement in sexual behaviour was observed in ethanolic extract treated rats. An significant increase in mount frequency and intromission frequency as well as significant reduction in mount latency and intromission latency were noticed for ethanolic extract. The same extract caused an improvement in testosterone levels, relative testes weight and histological architecture. The findings demonstrate the aphrodisiac potential of C. bonduc root and lend support to the folkloric use as aphrodisiac.

A 90-Day Oral Toxicity Study of an Ethanolic Root Extract of Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. in Wistar Rats.

BACKGROUND: Plant medicine is the oldest form of health care known to mankind; hence, studies on their safety for use are essential for the control of adverse drug effects. In Benin, Caesalpinia bonduc is one of many medicinal plants used as aphrodisiac, and for treatment of various ailments including prostatic hyperplasia. Despite its numerous ethnomedicinal benefits, toxicological information associated with its chronic use is currently limited. OBJECTIVE: The present study therefore assessed the toxicity of an ethanolic root extract of Caesalpinia bonduc in Wistar rats. METHODS: Caesalpinia bonduc root extract was administered by oral gavage at doses of 31.25, 125, and 500 mg/kg/day for 90 days to male Wistar rats, after which body weight changes, food consumption, urinary parameters, hematological and blood biochemical parameters, organ weights changes, gross pathology, and histopathology of vital organs were assessed. RESULTS: There were no death or abnormal clinical signs, no significant changes in body weight gain or urinary parameters, and no changes in necropsy and histopathology findings of vital organs associated with extract treatment. However, some indices such as erythrocytes, total cholesterol, and aspartate amino transferase increased in rats treated with high doses of the extract, as well as relative weight of testes, followed by a decrease in food intake and prostate relative weight. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that an ethanolic root extract of Caesalpinia bonduc does not cause significant adverse effects and suggest its tolerability up to 500 mg/kg for daily administration of 90 days.

Some pathophysiological insights into ovarian infestation by Myxobolus sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) in Clarias gariepinus (Clariids: Silurids) from Bénin (West Africa).

Mature female specimens of the catfish Clarias gariepinus originating from Ouémé River (Benin) were investigated into ovarian myxozoan parasites. Spores of Myxobolus sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) were found encrusted in the whitish color oocytes which present fat dot aspect in the gonads. The pathological investigation by electron microscopy revealed that maturation and multiplication of spores induced lytic action, deformation and dysfunction of the oocyte internal structures. No host inflammatory reaction was observed, while yolk, lipid, mitochondria, and other oocyte components were degenerated inducing empty area in the oocyte and could lead to castration in case of wide infestation. The mean prevalence was 19.79%. No significant difference was observed within seasonal prevalence (χ(2) = 1.771; df = 3; p > 0.05). Though the host length classes ranging from 35 to 39 cm and 40 to 45 cm were more infected, difference was not significant (χ(2) = 2.273; df = 4; p > 0.05) within them. The spores are ovoid in shape with two polar capsules which are equal in size, pyriform, and converging in anterior part of spore with four to five polar filament turns. Spore body are (11.47 ± 0.67) × (8.19 ± 0.52) µm length by width while polar capsule size are (4.24 ± 0.25) × (3.07 ± 0.28) µm and located in the first third portion of the spore. The molecular approaches are still running for accurate identification of this parasite.