Phytochemical profile and acute toxicity study of an aqueous extract of Petroselinum crispum (Apiaceae) leaves

This work aims to promote African pharmacopoeia. To this end, the composition and acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of Petroselinum crispum (Apiaceae) leaves, a plant used in various traditional medicine treatments, were determined. This study began with the preparation of the aqueous extract of Petroselinum crispum leaves by maceration in distilled water and filtration. The resulting extract was then used for phytochemical analysis using known methods. Qualitative phytochemical tests performed with this extract revealed the presence of sterols, polyterpenes, polyphenols, catechin tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, and saponins. Subsequently, an acute toxicity study was conducted on female Wistar mice by force-feeding them with single doses of 2000 or 5000 mg/kg body weight, following the OECD 423 guideline. It revealed that the extract was not toxic orally at the doses studied.