Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Oxalis barrelieri (Oxalidaceae) Aqueous Aerial Parts Extract

Aims: The present study was carried out to investigate the toxic effects of the Oxalis barrelieri aqueous aerial parts extract.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biological Sciences (Animal Physiology Laboratory), Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Yaoundé I. Between April 2017 and June 2018.

Materials and Methods: Acute toxicity using a single dose of 2000 mg/kg was administered to mice and effects were observed for 14 days. In sub-acute toxicity, the experimental rats (males and females) received aqueous extract of Oxalis barrelieri at doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg daily for 28 days while the control and satellite control groups received distilled water and satellite test group received extract at the dose of 800 mg/kg. The physical parameters were evaluated throughout the treatment, while the haematological, biochemical and histological parameters were evaluated at the end of the treatment.

Results: In acute toxicity, the results obtained show no death and no significant variation (p>0.05) in behavioral and morphological parameters. In sub-acute toxicity assay, few modifications were observed in haematological and biochemical parameters. At the higher dose of extract (800 mg/kg),the rate of red blood cells decreased significantly (p<0.05) two weeks after treatment in male rats , there were a significant increase (P˂0.001) in ASAT activity in male and female rats two weeks after extract administration, and a reversible significant increase (P˂0.05) in triglyceride level in male rats only. Histopathology showed a reversible slight dose dependent structural alteration of the kidney and reversible vascular congestion in liver.

Conclusion: The aqueous aerial parts extract of Oxalis barrelieri could possess moderate toxicity at high doses and adequate caution should be exercised in its use in ethnomedicine.