Toxicological Assessment and Antioxidant Profiling of an Ethanolic Extract Mixture of Ziziphus mauritiana and Bauhinia racemosa Leaves

The current study evaluates the toxicological safety and antioxidant potential of an ethanolic extract mixture from Ziziphus mauritiana and Bauhinia racemosa leaves, two plants with significant ethnopharmacological and therapeutic value. Acute oral toxicity was evaluated in Wistar rats following the guidelines outlined by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 423 protocol, with the extract mixture administered in doses reaching 2000 mg/kg of body weight. No adverse effects or mortality were observed over a 14-day period, indicating a high margin of safety. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) and through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The extract exhibited substantial phenolic (7.75 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (6.70 mg QE/g) contents, both associated with strong antioxidant properties. The DPPH assay revealed an IC₅₀ value of 75.53 μg/mL, demonstrating notable antioxidant activity, though less potent than synthetic antioxidants like ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 24.96 μg/mL). The result indicates that the ethanolic extract mixture of Z. mauritiana and B. racemosa leaves is safe for pharmacological use, supporting their traditional application with minimal toxicity risk at standard doses. However, chronic toxicity studies are recommended to establish long-term safety. This research lays the groundwork for the development of natural antioxidant therapies, highlighting the therapeutic potential of the Z. mauritiana and B. racemosa extract mixture in combating oxidative stress-related diseases.