Subchronic toxicity of aqueous extract of Cnestis ferruginea (Connaraceae) leaves on Wistar rats

The aim of this study is to evaluate the subchronic toxicity of Cnestis ferruginea leaves. After preparing the aqueous extract of Cnestisferruginea leaves (AECF) by maceration, 108 male and female rats divided into three groups of 24 received 1 mL of distilled water or EACF at 50 or 100 mg/kg of BW orally every day. The rats were weighed every two days and on days 15, 30 and 60 of treatment, 6 males and 6 females from each group were sacrificed. Their blood was collected in EDTA and dry tubes respectively for haematological and biochemical analyses. The results showed that the rats weight increased gradually and no significant difference was recorded between weight gains. With regard to haematological parameters, it was only after 30 days of treatment that a significant difference was observed in red blood cell and white blood cell (p<0.05) counts with the 50 mg/kg dose of BW. Biochemical analyses revealed a significant decrease in glucose levels of 3.83% (p<0.05) after 15 days with the 50 mg/kg dose of BW. In contrast, a significant increase of 7.37% (p<0.05) in cholesterol levels was observed after 30 days with a dose of 50 mg/kg of BW. It be noted that Cnestis ferruginea leaves, far from being toxic when taken orally, have pharmacological properties that make them a good candidate for the development of new drugs.