Monograph: Acute Toxicity, Phytochemical Analysis and Ethnomedicinal Study of Aqueous (Leaf and Stem Back) Extracts of three Ethnomedicinal plants (Macaranga hurifolia, Mareya micrantha, and Mallotus oppositifolius) from Ivorian Pharmacopoeia on Rats

Macaranga hurifolia (ZG02), Mallotus oppositifolius (ZG04), and Mareya micrantha (ZG08) are ethnomedicinal plants belong to Euphorbiaceae family Which are frequently used in treating various diseases in Ivory Coast. The aim of this study is to determine the phytochemical composition and safety level of these three plants.

Phytochemical assays were conducted using tubes following standard methods. Acute toxicity was assessed according to OECD 423 guidelinesThe rats were divided into fifteen groups of three rats each, 4 control groups,4ZG02 groups, 4 ZG04 groups, and 3 ZG08 groups).

Results of phytochemical analysis revealed that ZG02 contains polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, gallotannins, and saponins. ZG04 contains polyphenols, flavonoids, catechin tannins, saponins, as well as sterols and terpenoids.While ZG08 contains polyphenols, flavonoids, gallotannins, catechin tannins, saponins, as well as sterols and terpenoids.

Regarding acute toxicity, administration of the aqueous extracts for the determination of acute toxicity of ZG02 and ZG04, did not produce any mortality in the rats for dosages of up to 2000 mg/kg. Thus, the LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of the population) of ZG02 and ZG04 is greater than 2000 mg/kg of body weight. However, the treatment of ZG08 at 300 mg/kg of body weight, caused a modification in the behavior of the test animals, while the treatment at 2000 mg/kg of body weight resulted in the death of all 3 tested ras. The LD50 of ZG08 is equal to 500 mg/kg of body weight.

In conclusion, the presence of rich active phytochemical, justifying the traditional uses of the plant. ZG02 and ZG04 show no oral toxicity, while ZG08 is toxic through this route