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Objective. This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of Dialium guineense Willd fruit pulp powder on diarrhea induced by castor oil in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods. Three different tests were carried out. A preventive test by administration of a single dose of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg before the induction of diarrhea by castor oil. Another preventive test after repeated administration of Dialium guineense at 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day for 8 days, before the induction of diarrhea, was done. The third test was a curative test with a single dose of 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg after the induction of diarrhea by castor oil. Results. D. guineense fruit pulp at 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg administered before the induction of diarrhea, has significantly delayed diarrhea; reduced the frequency of defecation, reduced the amount of diarrheal stools, and also reduced the purging index, with a degree of inhibition comparable to that of loperamide. But the water content of the stools of the group treated with D. guineense does not change significantly compared to the controls. D. guineense has reduced significantly from 500 mg/kg the diarrhea induced by castor oil after 8 days of treatment. It appears that the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, which were not effective with the single-dose preventive test, significantly delayed diarrhea; reduces the frequency of diarrheal stools and also reduces the purging index. D. guineense administered, after the induction of diarrhea, by castor oil has significantly reduced the diarrhea from 250 mg/kg. Conclusion. The fruit pulp of D. guineense has showed antidiarrheal activities in Wistar rats by reducing the frequency of defecation, the amount of diarrheal fecal matter emitted as well as the water content. It also delayed the onset of diarrhea and significantly reduced the purging index like loperamide.

Toxicologie Analytique et Clinique - Sous presse. Manuscrit accepte. Disponible en ligne depuis le samedi 23 octobre 2021

Introduction: The impact of aromatic plants used in cooking on health is indisputable. This study aims to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of Artemia salina, acute and the 28 days subchronic toxicity of X. aethiopica dried fruit used like spice in Togo by oral administration of the extract to female Wistar rats. Results: The A. salina assay showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of X. aethiopica presented any toxicity. The LC50 values of X. aethiopica on brine shrimp were 0.64 ± 0.13 mg/mL. The acute toxicity study revealed neither behavioral disturbances nor death in rats. The lethal dose (DL50) of this extract is greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. The results of subchronic toxicity showed no significant change in body and organs weight gain in rats at test doses throughout the treatment period. No changes in haematological parameters were observed apart from a significant increase in platelet number at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg. Biochemical parameters such as Urea, Creatinine, Triglycerides, Total cholesterol, Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and glycemia were not significantly changed. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities increased at doses of 500/1000 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg respectively. Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) activity decrease at the dose of 500 and 1000 mg/kg. Blood electrolytes showed no significant change. The histological sections showed no organ damage. Conclusions: Aqueous extract of X. aethiopica did not lead to any adverse effects in rats after acute and subchronic treatment at 500 and 1000 mg/kg doses. Keywords: Xylopia aethiopica, Cytotoxicity, Toxicity, Wistar rats.

Background. Belonging to the family of Combretaceae, the roots of Anogeissus leiocarpus are traditionally used to treat diabetes, wounds, infections, pain, and gastrointestinal diseases. To our knowledge, no genotoxicity assessment of the plant was reported. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the potential genotoxic and protective effects of extract of Anogeissus leiocarpus roots using the micronucleus test on mice bone marrow cells in vivo. Methods. Three different concentrations (250, 500, and 1000 mg·kg−1) of hydroalcoholic extract of roots of A. leiocarpus were administered daily for 7 days per os to mice, and the genotoxicity was induced by the administration ip of cyclophosphamide. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity were evaluated by counting, respectively, the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and polychromatic erythrocytes to total erythrocytes in the bone marrow of mice. Results. The administration of A. leiocarpus did neither increase the ratio of the polychromatic erythrocyte (PCE) nor the frequency of micronucleated PCE (MNPCE) significantly in the bone marrow cells of the mice, compared to the vehicle control animals. However, a significant increase in the incidence of MNPCE in the bone marrow cell of the cyclophosphamide-treated mice was found. Moreover, in the groups treated with the total extract of A. leiocarpus at different doses plus cyclophosphamide, there was a significant decrease p < 0.0001 in MNPCEs compared to the positive controls, in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion. This first finding reports that the extract of A. leiocarpus was neither genotoxic nor cytotoxic. However, it shows a protective effect against the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide.

Carissa spinarum L. (Apocynaceae) is used traditionally, in Africa, to treat many diseases such as malaria, sickle cell anemia, epilepsy, helminthoses, and sexual weakness. The aim of this study is...

This study aimed to provide data on the subacute toxicity and fetotoxicity of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. & Dalziel, Anacardium occidentale L., Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A. DC., Khaya senegalensis (Desv.) A. Juss., Ocimum gratissimum L., Vernonia amygdalina Delile, Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir., and Manihot esculenta Crantz used in the treatment of diarrheal diseases in Benin. For subacute toxicity, each male and female Wistar rat received by esophageal gavage a maximum of 1000 mg/kg over 28 days following the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guideline No. 407. Bodyweight changes, biochemical and hematological parameters were assessed. The fetotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated on Dutch Blue hen eggs at 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg. The hatching rate, biochemical and hematological constants were subsequently determined. The subacute toxicity data did not indicate any mortality or signs of toxicity. Also, no significant difference in the bodyweight of the rats and the hematological parameters was noted. Concerning fetotoxicity, a low hatching rate (varying from 20% to 50%) was observed in the batches treated with the extracts at 300mg/kg compared to the rate obtained in the negative control batch (80%). The batches that received the hydroethanolic extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Manihot esculenta at the tested doses had a hatching rate of 0%. When looking at hematological parameters, no significant difference was noted for all batches. However, an increase in the Aspartate Amino-Transferase (ASAT) values was noted in the batches that received the hydroethanolic extract of Khaya senegalensis and the aqueous extract of Diospyros mespiliformis at 100 and 300 mg/kg. These results explicitly show that the hydroethanolic extracts of Manihot esculenta and Vernonia amygdalina are fetotoxic at the tested doses.

Resume Objectif Selon l’OMS, les intoxications constituent un veritable probleme de sante publique dans le monde. Notre etude a pour objectif de decrire le profil des intoxications aigues dans les services des urgences et de pediatrie du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sylvanus Olympio (CHU SO) de Lome (Togo). Methodes Une etude transversale retrospective et descriptive a ete menee, de janvier 2013 a decembre 2017, dans les services des urgences et de pediatrie du CHU SO de Lome (Togo). Pour ce faire, nous nous sommes servis des dossiers medicaux des 201 patients ayant beneficie d’une prise en charge pour une intoxication durant notre periode d’etude. Resultats Les intoxications representaient 0,25 % des admissions dans les 2 services du CHU SO. Environ 33 % des victimes avaient moins de 5 ans. Le sexe masculin a ete le plus represente avec 57,20 %. Les intoxications etaient accidentelles dans 100 cas sur les 201. Les produits industriels et menagers etaient les plus incrimines (34,33 %), suivis des medicaments (22,29 %) et des substances psychoaffectives (17,91 %). L’eau de javel etait impliquee dans 8,95 % des cas. Le pronostic etait defavorable dans 2,49 %. L’intoxication au petrole etait la cause principale des deces enregistres (3 deces sur 5). L’administration, par exemple, de l’huile de palme (21,39 %) ou du lait (4,48 %) et l’arrivee tardive a l’hopital retardaient la prise en charge. Conclusion Cette etude a montre que les intoxications etaient en majorite accidentelles. Les bebes marcheurs et le sexe masculin etaient les plus touches. Les resultats des analyses et les antidotes administres n’ont pas ete clairement explicites dans les dossiers. Il serait necessaire de sensibiliser les parents sur la surveillance des bebes marcheurs, qui sont les plus touches par les intoxications, et surtout de creer un centre antipoison pour la prise en charge des intoxications dans notre pays.

Launaea taraxacifolia (Asteraceae) is a widely used vegetable in West Africa. It is used in traditional healing of many diseases such as hypertension, anemia, diabetes, and bleeding. The aim of thi...

This study is aimed at evaluating the effects ofThree different tests were carried out. A preventive test by administration of a single dose of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg before the induction of diarrhea by castor oil. Another preventive test after repeated administration ofThe fruit pulp of

Pesticides are more and more used in African countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk and the impact of pesticides on gardener’s health. It is a transversal descriptive study, which referred to vegetable growers, held in Lomé on the period from May 20 to June 5, 2017. Forty-eight (48) growers participated in the study. Men accounted for 70.8% of the study population against 29.2% of women. The level of education was primary (47.9%) in the majority of cases. Married people or couples represented 77.1% of cases. Most gardeners (72.9%) has no training in the use of pesticides. Pesticides were consistently applied (100%), including insecticides (72.7%), herbicides (9.1%), and fungicides (18.2%). Of 20 pesticides collected, 9 (45%) were approved by our authorities. Only 43.8% of growers were supplied with pesticides from authorized structures of agricultural products. Branches of plants (79.2%) were the spray means of most of the pesticides. Most gardeners (79, 2%) did not use personal protective equipment because of lack of resources for 81.6% of them. Water and environment contamination risk by pesticides was known by only 6.3% of gardeners. Among the adverse effects reported, pruritus was the majority in 85.4% of cases followed by headache (70.8%), cough (68.8%), and muscle pain (64.6%). The training of gardeners, monitoring and control of this informal sector, and the monitoring of unregistered pesticides will help to reduce the risk of poisoning of gardeners and consumers of vegetables as well as environmental pollution.

Resume Objectif D’apres l’OMS, 9 personnes sur 10 respirent un air pollue et environ 7 millions de personnes meurent chaque annee a cause de la pollution de l’air. Notre etude a ainsi pour objectif d’evaluer la qualite de l’air a Lome et son impact sur les maladies respiratoires. Methodes Une etude descriptive et analytique a ete ainsi menee du 20 mai au 31 juillet 2019 dans les quartiers de Lome. Le dosage de composes organiques volatiles (COV), formaldehyde, monoxyde de carbone, PM 2,5 et PM 10 a ete realise par des appareils simples destines au grand public dont un compteur multigaz toxiques de marque IGERESS et un detecteur du monoxyde de carbone de marque X-SENSE CO03A. Resultats Le taux d’humidite etait eleve (superieur a 70 %) dans toutes les maisons avec la presence de moisissures dans 67,27 % des maisons. Dans toutes les habitations, les valeurs des PM 2,5 varient de 10,3 a 17,3 μg/m3 et sont donc superieures a la norme de l’OMS (concentration annuelle moyenne inferieure a 10 μg/m3). Quant aux PM10, les concentrations varient de 11,6 a 18,4 μg/m3 dans les habitations et sont inferieures aux 20 μg/m3 de l’OMS. Les valeurs des autres polluants doses (COV, formaldehyde, monoxyde de carbone) sont beaucoup plus elevees dans les stations d’essence, les moulins et aux niveaux des feux tricolores. Conclusion La pollution de l’air interieur comme exterieur demeure preoccupante a Lome. Le niveau des polluants demeure eleve dans les moulins, stations, feux tricolores et meme dans certaines maisons.

BackgroundAmaranthus spinosusis a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat several diseases including diabetes and its complications. The aim of this study was to prove the safety of the plant in animal health.MethodsThe dry extract was obtained following the hydroethanolic extraction ofA. spinosusroots. The cytotoxicity was evaluatedin vitroby incubatingArtemia salinalarvae with the extract for 24 h.In vivotoxicity was assessed in Sprague Dawley rats. A single dose of 5000 mg/kg bw of extract was administered orally to female rats in acute toxicity and observed for 14 days for mortality and signs of toxicity. In subchronic toxicity, extract doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw were administered orally to male and female rats for 28 consecutive days and observed for previous signs. Body weight was recorded daily and blood glucose levels every week. On day 29, blood was collected for biochemical and hematological studies. Organs were then exised for gross autopsy and histopathological examination.ResultsThein vitrostudy showed that the extract had a LC50 = 1.178 mg/mL in larvae and was considered to be non-cytotoxic. Oral administration of extract at a single dose of 5000 mg/kg bw did not cause any mortality or sign of toxicity in gross necropsy. In subchronic oral toxicity, repeated doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw of extract, did not also cause any mortality or significant change in body weight, relative weight of vital organs. Furthermore, hematological and biochemical parameters and histopathological examination did not show any significant change. The observed decrease in blood glucose levels did not correlate with organ damage and supports the safety of the plant. However, the reduction of LDL-cholesterol has shown that the extract can prevent cardiovascular disease.ConclusionsThis finding demonstrated thatA. spinosusroot is non-toxic with a LD50 > 5000 mg/kg bw. Thus, the extract can be used for cutaneous and subchronic oral administration at doses ≤ 1000 mg/kg bw. However, further studies such as embryo/fetotoxicity, genotoxicity and neurotoxicity will be needed to prove the safety of chronic administration of the extract in patients and fetuses.

Objective. Mangifera indica Linn, Bridelia ferruginea Benth, and Alstonia boonei De Wild are three plants commonly used in the traditional treatment of urinary tract infections in Benin. This study sets out to assess the cytotoxic and teratogenic effects of extracts of these plants on Artemia salina larvae and hen embryos. Methods and Results. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were obtained by maceration of the powders in solvents. Larval cytotoxicity was performed on Artemia salina larvae. The teratogenic effect of these plants was evaluated on chick embryos at 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg. The extracts were injected on the 7th and 14th days of incubation. The quality of the hatched chicks was evaluated by the Tona score followed by the hematological and the biochemical parameter assays. The extracts did not show cytotoxicity on the larvae. The eggs treated with plant extracts at 300 mg/kg significantly lowered the hatchability rate, except for the Mangifera indica Linn. The chicks obtained were all at the very good quality. Then, no significant variation was observed between hematological parameters except white blood cells. For the biochemical parameters, only ASAT showed some significant variations for a few extracts. It would be important to assess the genotoxicity of the plant extracts to determine more broader toxicity. These data justify the use of these medicinal plants in traditional Beninese medicine and constitute in fact a source of production of anti-infectious drugs.

Background The purpose of the study was to determine the circumstances of occurrence of these sudden deaths, risk factors, to identify the causes of sudden death in adults at autopsy, with a view to improving prevention. Methods This is a retrospective study of the cases of sudden death that were the subject of an autopsy in the pathology anatomy department of the University Hospital Sylvanus Olympio in Lomé from 2009 to 2018. Results A total of 318 sudden death cases were recorded. The sex ratio (M/F) was 1.8, and the mean age was 43 ± 0.36 years. Sudden deaths were the second most common reason for autopsies after traffic accidents. The place of death was home in 76.7% of cases and in hospitals in 23.3%. Obesity was noted in 59.4%, with an umbilical adipose panicle varying between 7 and 12 cm thick. Cardiovascular causes excluding cerebral involvement (n = 173 cases, 54.40%) followed by pulmonary causes (n = 100 cases, 31.44%) were the most common cause of sudden death. The predominant cardiac pathology was infarction accounting for 32.07% of all causes of sudden death, and pulmonary embolism with 19.49% was the leading cause at the pulmonary level. Conclusion The victims of sudden death in Togo are relatively young, predominantly male and predominantly obese. The main causes of sudden death were myocardial infarction followed by pulmonary embolism. The prevention of sudden death remains paramount, especially in the African context, where pre-hospital care is often inadequate., Sudden death, Autopsy, Myocardial infarction, Pulmonary embolism, Togo

This review tries to provide a comprehension of the relation existing between aging and nutrition. Macronutrients and micronutrients obtained from food intake support biological and physiological activities required for optimal health. The past decade has witnessed studies demonstrating a link between malnutrition and accelerated aging or age-related disorders. Aging causes loss of function in tissues and organs and is explained by different theories such as free radical or reactive oxygen species (ROS), nutritional intervention in the name of caloric or dietary restriction (CR/DR), or endocrine theories. These theories confirm the bridge between nutrition and aging, and give the clues on how aging and age-related diseases can be mitigated by macronutrients like proteins and carbohydrates, and by micronutrients, including vitamins and essential minerals. This review, besides giving insight into the precedent theories and findings, answers the following questions: Which nutrients are essential or need to be considered in the elderly? Do elderly feed themselves without difficulties? What are the basic causes and consequences of aging that link it to nutrition? Through this insight and those answers, the article lays the path down for further studies on the interaction between the aging process and different types of nutrients.

Background. In the sub-Saharan African, region of the world with a fast growing aging population and where the use of herbal products is very common, there is a paucity of data on medication consumption patterns among elderly people. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of polypharmacy and its associated factors among community-dwelling elderly in Lomé, Togo, in 2017. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2017 in Lomé, Togo among people aged 60 years and older. The Respondent Driven Sampling method was used to recruit participants. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and medication consumption patterns, including the use of medicinal plants and dietary supplements, were collected using a standardized questionnaire during a face-to-face interview at participants’ home. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were performed. Results. A total of 370 participants with median age 65 years, (IQR: 62–71) were enrolled in the study. Almost three elderly in five (57.6%) were multimorbid (had two or more chronic diseases). Conventional drugs (78.4%), medicinal plants (14.3%) and other dietary supplements (9.5%) were used by participants. The prevalence of polypharmacy was 22.7% (95% CI: 18.5–27.3%). Concurrent use of conventional drugs and medicinal plants or other dietary supplements was observed among 17.0% of participants and 67.3% reported self-medication. Multimorbidity (aOR = 4.55; 95% CI: [2.42–8.54]) and female sex (aOR = 1.86; 95% CI: [1.00–3.47]) were associated with polypharmacy. Conclusion. One elderly in five uses five or more medications in Togo. Further studies are needed to assess drug-drug interactions and herb-drug interactions among this population.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of catechins isolated from Bridelia ferruginea in previous studies. Epigallocatechin (EGC) and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) isolated from B. ferruginea were administrated to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice to evaluate their anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects. Then, biochemical parameters were assayed in different groups of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The level of fasting blood glucose levels, triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were significantly decreased after daily oral administration of EGC and EGCG at doses of 10 mg/kg/day, for 21 days. Glucose intolerance was significantly reduced in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice treated with catechins. These results suggest that catechins constituents from B. ferruginea, revealed significant anti-hyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activity in type 2 diabetes. Key words: Bridelia ferruginea, epigallocatechin, streptozotocin, diabetes, medicinal plant.

Objectives: To assess the received suspected adverse events occurring upon treatment with drugs and vaccines, at National Centre for Pharmacovigilance, in Togo, from 2009 to 2016. Methods: A crossover study was conducted in order to collect data about patients, drugs, suspected adverse events and notifiers. Suspected adverse events were classified using Med DRA 19.1. Notification’s circumstances were classified into Public Health Programs’ campaigns and routine practice. Data were collated into Excel spreadsheet and processed with SPSS software. Key Findings: Regional distribution is irregular. Of the 322 collected report forms, paramedics have notified 60.8% of the cases. Adult patients were the most represented (70.2%). Public Health Programs campaigns provided 72.6% versus 27.4% for routine practice including Neglected Tropical Diseases (41.4%), immunization (27.7%), tuberculosis (25.9%) and 4.5% for HIV. Skin disorders were the most prevalent suspected adverse events (147 sheets; 45.7%) followed by general disorders and administration site disorders (29.8%) and gastro-intestinal disorders (12.7%). General anti-infective drugs for systemic use, antiparasites, and insecticides were the most reported class of medications (161 sheets; 44.7%). Conclusions: A thorough follow-up of pharmacovigilance launched activities is needed to build a sustainable adverse effect’s surveillance system and routine practice has to be strengthened.

International audience

In African traditional medicine, Ageratum conyzoides has been used as purgative, febrifuge, anti-ulcer and wound dressing. To date there is no safety information about long term use of Ageratum conyzoides which contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, a class of hepatotoxic and carcinogenic phytochemicals. This study aims to evaluate the 90 days subchronic toxicity and in vitro toxicity of Ageratum conyzoides.Three groups of 8 rats (4 males and 4 females) received distilled water (control), 500 and 1000 mg/kg of the extract daily for 90 consecutive days by oral gavage. The animals were observed daily for abnormal clinical signs and death. Body weight, relative organ weight, haematological and biochemical parameters of blood as well as heart, kidney, liver and spleen tissues histology were evaluated.After 90 days administration, Ageratum conyzoides increased significantly (p0.05) the relative weight of the liver, the spleen and kidney as compared to control group. Ageratum conyzoides increased also significantly (p0.05) ALP, ALT, AST and blood glucose. Furthermore, an increase in the number of platelets associated with a normocytic and normochromic anaemia was observed. The cytotoxicity, determined by the MTT test and neutral red assay, has shown that the cytotoxicity of hydroalcoholic extract of Ageratum conyzoides and its total alkaloids was very close.Our results have shown that Ageratum conyzoides at 500 and 1000 mg/kg can induce liver, kidney and haematological disorders. These toxics effects can be attributed to its total alkaloids especially to pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are present in this plant.

International audience; Poly(HexaMethylene Biguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB) CAS No. [32289-58-0] is a particularly effective member of the biguanides antiseptic chemical group, and has been in use since the early fifties in numerous applications. It has been proposed that PHMB be classified as a category 3 carcinogen although PHMB is not genotoxic. It has been hypothesized that PHMB may have epigenetic properties effects, including non-genotoxic modifications of DNA bases, DNA methylation and mitogenic cytokine production. These properties have been assessed in vitro using 3 cell types: Caco-2 cells (from a human colon adenocarcinoma) with a non-functional p53 gene. (∆p53: mut p53), N2-A (Neuro-2A cells, mouse neural cells), the brain being a possible target organ in rodents and HepG2 cells (human hepatocellular carcinoma) with functional p53 gene. From the concentration 1 µg/mL up to 20 µg/mL of PHMB, no effect was observed, either growth stimulation or inhibition. Viability testing using neutral red led to an IC 50 of 20-25 µg/mL after treatment with PHMB for 3 h, whereas the MTT test led to IC50 values of 80 µg/mL, 160 µg/mL and 160 µg/mL respectively for HepG2 cells, Neuro-2A cells and Caco-2 cells. PHMB does not induce significant oxidative stress (production of MDA or lipoperoxidation, nor does it induce hydroxylation of DNA (8-OH-dG) and/or its hypermethylation (m5dC), the latter being strongly implicated in DNA replication and regulation and cell division. PHMB does not induce significant production of mitogenic cytokines such as TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor), interleukins (IL-1 alpha), and the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) which can cause either apoptosis or stimulate the growth of transformed cells or tumors. Instead, from concentrations of 20 to 100 µg/mL, PHMB kills cells of all types in less than 3 h. The expression of genes involved in the mechanisms of cell death induced by PHMB, including p53, the pro apoptotic gene bax and others, the anti-apoptotic bcl-2 and caspase-3 has been evaluated by RT-PCR. Finally, the status of GAP-junctions (GJIC) in the presence of PHMB has been determined and appeared to not be significantly affected. Taken together the data show that in vitro PHMB does not exhibit clear and remarkable epigenetic properties except a slight increase of some cytokines and transcription factor at higher concentrations at which cell lysis occurs rapidly.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in the author group section. The correct name of the seventh author is “Batomayena Bakoma.”

Traditional oral report indicates that Tectona grandis is used in the treatment of anaemia in Togo. For this purpose, the extract of T. grandis leaves is evaluated on anaemia model of rat induced by intraperitoneal injection of phenylhydrazine at 40 mg/kg for 2 days. Oral administration of T. grandis extract at 1 g/kg/day and 2 g/kg/day, to the rats previously treated with phenylhydrazine, increased the concentration of haemoglobin, red blood cells number, haematocrit and reticulocytes rate. Moreover, the extract of T. grandis enhanced the osmotic resistance of the red blood cells that confirm the important presence of young red blood cells. These results support partially the traditional use of T. grandis in the treatment of anaemia.

Purpose: To evaluate the fetal toxicity and cytotoxicity of L. kerstingii in pregnant rats exposed in the organogenic period. Methods: Mated female rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups of 8 animals each. Pregnant rats received orally 500 or 1000 mg/kg of 50 % hydroalcohol extract of L. kerstingii , daily from the 17th to the 20th day of gestation. On day 21 of pregnancy, the females were sacrificed. Laparotomy was performed and uterine horns were removed. The number of implants, resorptions, dead and live fetuses were then recorded. The ovaries were also observed and corpora lutea were counted. The cytotoxic effect of L. kerstingii hydroalcohol extract was evaluated on Caco-2 cell lines using MTT (3-(4, 5-dimetylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and neutral red uptake assay. Results: No visible signs of toxicity were observed in the female rats and their pups through-out the study period. However, L. kerstingii (500 and 1000 mg/kg) caused a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in fetal weight compared with control. With regard to implantation, resorption and mortality, there was no significant difference between groups. L. kerstingii hydroal-cohol extract (IC 50 , 29 μg/mL) was more cytotoxic than the aqueous extract (IC 50 , 141 μg/mL). Conclusion: The administration of hydroalcohol extract of L. kerstingii to female rats in late pregnancy is toxic to the fetus. Keywords: Lannea kerstingii , Fetal toxicity, Cytotoxicity, Mortality, Oxidative stress, Anorexia