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Alchornea cordifolia is a medicinal plant, whose ethanolic and methanolic extracts have shown antioxidant activity which could confer hepatoprotective effect, knowing that liver cells are attacked by free radicals. The hepatoprotective effect of these extracts has been demonstrated in models of hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol high doses in animals. However, anti-tubercular drugs at the usual dose present hepatotoxicity risk. Could Alchornea cordifolia help to limit hepatotoxicity induced by anti-tubercular drugs? This work aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity and the hepatoprotective effect of an aqueous extract of A. cordifolia leaves (AEAC). The antioxidant activity of A. cordifolia leaves was studied in vitro by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals scavenging assay and by the iron reduction ability. A phytochemical screening was carried out to identify the chemical groups that could be responsible for this activity. The hepatoprotective effect was demonstrated in a model of hepatotoxicity induced by isoniazid and rifampicin in rats. Two hours after induction of hepatotoxicity, the animals were orally administered the AEAC at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days. A blood sample was taken on the 11th day for the evaluation of transaminases, markers of hepatic cytolysis. A totally of 96 rats were used in this study. AEAC showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids. Administrated alone, aqueous extract of A. cordifolia leaves didn’t modificate the transaminases, isoniazid and the isoniazid + rifampicin combination resulted in increasing transaminases (ALT and AST) by more than 48%. AEAC at 800 mg/kg reduced AST and ALT levels by more than 45%. AEAC at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg decreased ALT more than 40%. Knowing that antioxidant activity protects liver, the AEAC may by its antioxidant activity, contribute to protect against the hepatotoxicity induced by anti-tubercular drugs in the rat.

L’ecorce de racines de Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight et Arn. (Fabaceae) est traditionnellement utilisee, par trituration aqueuse en instillations nasales, pour traiter l’asthme en Cote d’Ivoire. Des proprietes antispasmodiques sur la musculature lisse du tractus respiratoire d’une part, des proprietes antioxydante et analgesique d’autre part, d’un extrait hydro-ethanolique de cette partie de la plante, ont precedemment ete mises en evidence. Les presentes investigations ont consiste en l’evaluation de parametres cliniques, hematologiques et biochimiques au cours d’une etude de toxicite subaigue des doses pharmacologiquement actives du meme extrait de la drogue vegetale. Les tests realises, par administration orale de l’extrait a 10, 100, et 1000 mg/kg pc chez des rats de souche Wistar, conformement aux lignes directrices de l’OCDE 407, n’ont pas mis en evidence d’effets toxiques significatifs ni sur les mensurations corporelles (temperature et poids), ni sur les elements figures du sang, ni sur les activites des transaminases ou sur les fonctions metaboliques glucidique et renale. Ces resultats suggerent que, dans l’usage antiasthmatique traditionnel de la crise d’asthme, l’extrait ne contient pas de substances mortelles sur 28 jours. Toutefois, des etudes de toxicite chronique seraient requises pour attester l’innocuite de l’ecorce de racines de Dichrostachys cinerea dans un usage au long cours. © 2019 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved Mots cles: plante antiasthmatique, OCDE 407, parametres hematologiques, parametres biochimiques English Title: Subacute toxicity of Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (Fabaceae) root bark English Abstract Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight and Arn. (Fabaceae) root bark, ground with water and administered in nasal instillations, is traditionally used for asthma management in Cote d’Ivoire. An aqueous-alcoholic extract of this part of the plant was previously assessed and antispasmodic property on the smooth musculature of the respiratory tract as well as antioxidant and analgesic properties were highlighted. Current investigations involved the evaluation of clinical, hematological and biochemical parameters in a subacute toxicity study of pharmacologically active doses of the same plant extract. Experiments led by oral administration of the extract at 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg b. wt., in accordance with OECD Test Guideline 407, did not show significant toxic effects on body measurements (temperature and weight), nor on figurative elements of the blood, neither on transaminase activities or on carbohydrate moiety and renal metabolic function. These results suggest that, in the traditional anti-asthmatic use for asthma attack, the extract does not contain deadly substances over 28 days. However, further chronic toxicity studies would be required to provide evidence of the safety of Dichrostachys cinerea root bark in a long-term use. © 2019 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved Keywords: anti-asthmatic plant, OECD 407, hematological parameters, biochemical parameters