Evaluation of the acute and subacute toxicity of the aqueous extract of the recipe based on the steam bark of dacryodes buttnerie (engl.) h.j.lam (burceracae) and pseudopsondias microcarpa (a. rich.) engl.(anacardiacea)

Dacryodes buttneri (Burseraceae) and Pseudospndias microcarpa (Anacardiaceae) are two plants used in traditional Congolese medicine in the form of a recipe in the treatment of several diseases. This study aimed to estimate the acute and subacute toxicity of the recipe. The acute toxicity of the aqueous extract (2000 and 5000 mg/kg) of the recipe was evaluated according to the OECD guideline in single administration. It appears that the aqueous extract of the recipe does not modify the general behavior of the animals and does not cause any mortality. This result suggests that the toxic doses would be greater than 5000 mg/kg. Subacute toxicity was evaluated in rats for 28 days using the high dose of 800 mg/kg. It appears from this study that the aqueous extract (800 mg/ kg) of the recipe in regular administration for 28 days does not modify the general behavior of the animals, does not cause any mortality and does not modify significantly (p>0.05) the relative weight of organs, biochemical and hematological parameters compared to control animals. On the other hand, histological examinations revealed venous toxicity in the liver, intestine and kidneys. This recipe should be used with caution in patients with a known history of liver, kidney and bowel disorders.