Abstract

IN VIVO MUTAGENICITY AND REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY STUDIES OF THE MIXTURE OF ROOT BARK POWDERS FROM CALOTROPIS PROCERA AND ZANTHOXYLUM ZANTHOXYLOÏDES

SOMDA Donzèo Gaétan*, OUEDRAOGO Geoffroy Gueswindé, ILBOUDO Sylvain, OUEDRAOGO Moussa, GUISSOU Innocent Pierre, OUEDRAOGO Noufou

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Abstract

Herbal therapies are used by about 88% of the world's population and 90% of the African population still depend on medicinal plants for their health and well-being. In Burkina Faso, traditional medicine remain the main source of primary health care for 70% of the population. However, some plant-based preparations have toxic effects that can lead to mortality or morbidity. This work aimed to evaluate the mutagenic potential on mouse erythrocytes and the effects on reproduction of the mixture of Calotropis procera and Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloïdes root bark powders, plants used in the traditional treatment of sickle cell disease and in the formulation of FACA®, in order to make its use safe for the management of sickle cell disease. The mutagenicity study was performed according to OECD guideline 474 on NMRI mice. The reproductive toxicity study of the mixture was performed on Wistar rats according to OECD guideline 422. The results of the study showed that the mixture of Calotropis procera and Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides root bark powders is not mutagenic in mice up to 2000 mg/kg bw. This mixture causes a dose-dependent stimulation of spermatogenesis in male rats. In female rats, this mixture causes a decrease in fertility at 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw. However, at 250 mg/kg bw it has no effect on reproductive capacity in rats. The use of the mixture of Calotropis procera and Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloïdes root powders at low doses does not have a mutagenic effect on mice erythrocytes and does not affect reproductive health in rats.

Keywords: Calotropis procera; Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloïdes; FACA®; mutagenicity; reprotoxicity.