A chemical and toxicological study of the tuber extracts of Rhoicissus revoilii Planch. (Vitaceae): A Comorian plant used as a pesticide

This study aimed to assess the acute toxicity of Rhoicissus revoilii Planch tuber extracts. This plant from the Vitaceae family is used to treat various pathologies and as a pesticide in the Comoros. From dried tuber powder previously treated with hexane, a methanolic extract (ME) was obtained with a yield of 20.33%. Phytochemical screening of the powder revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, coumarins, triterpenes and steroids. The toxicity of ME was assessed in mice and cold-blooded animals. In mice, symptoms of intoxication by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) and oral routes mainly included decreased motor activity, muzzle itching, diarrhoea, and increased respiratory rate. The LD50 (24 h) of ME in mice was estimated to be between 21.29 and 22.3 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) by the i.p. route. By the oral route, it was estimated to be between 273 and 275 mg/kg b.w. When administered by these two routes, ME caused dose-dependent histopathological lesions in the liver, lungs and kidneys. The LC50s were estimated to be 7.491 μg/ml, 8.055 μg/ml and 685 μg/ml, respectively, for alvins, legless frog tadpoles and mosquito larvae at stage three of development.