In vivo evaluation of the genotoxicity of the total aqueous extract of Sacoglottis gabonensis (Baille) Urban (Humiriaceae) stem barks in albino Wistar rat

According to the WHO, 80% of people in developing countries rely on medicinal plants for their health care. Some of these plants are reputed to be toxic and can present a real danger. The objective of this study was to assess the genotoxic potential of the total aqueous extract of Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark (ETASg) in Wistar rat. 130 rats with body weights ranging from 73 to 103 g were divided into eight groups, i.e. groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of 20 rats and groups 6, 7 and 8 of 10 rats for reversibility. Groups 1 and 6 received distilled water; groups 2, 3 received ETASg at doses of 3.5 and 35 mg/kg bw respectively; groups 5 and 7 received ETASg at a dose of 350 mg/kg bw for 90 days orally; groups 5 and 8 received urethane at a dose of 400 mg/kg bw intraperitoneally 24 h prior to general euthanasia. After euthanasia, bone marrow was harvested from the femur for smears to test for micronuclei or micronucleated polychromatophylytic erythrocytes. This study showed greater micronucleus formation in urethane-treated groups than in the control group. Rats treated orally with ETASg at doses of 3.5, 35 and 350 mg/kg bw showed a rate of micronucleus induction relatively close to that of control rats. In short, ETASg is not genotoxic. It would be interesting to evaluate the effect of this extract on stem cell proliferation in rats.