Pathophysiology of <i>Sarcocephalus latifolius</i> root aqueous extract on liver and kidney function in Benin

In Africa as a whole, and Benin in particular, the population is increasingly faced with a number of illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, colds, gastric problems, malaria and colic. Although modern medicine is welldeveloped, people are turning to traditional medicine to treat these conditions, because of their low purchasing power. The frequent use of these medicinal plants by traditional healers, and the satisfactory results achieved in some cases, led us to look more closely at Sarcocephalus latifolius, which is used in the symptomatic treatment of various conditions such as malaria, fever, diabetes, high blood pressure and abdominal pain, in order to compare its use by traditional healers with scientific evidence. Several authors have highlighted the multiple uses of this plant in popular medicinal practices or African pharmacopoeia. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of an aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius roots on liver and kidney function in Wistar rats. After aqueous extraction of Sarcocephalus latifolius roots, the extraction yield was calculated. Biochemical indices were used as toxicity indices. Rats were sampled at D0 and D14 for biochemical parameters. Transaminase (ALAT), urea, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubins and creatinine were measured. The results of the present study showed that the aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius roots gives a yield of 3.5%. The doses of 250, 1000 and 4000mg/kg CP of the aqueous extract of the roots of Sarcocephalus latifolius caused kidney and liver dysfunction.