PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ACUTE TOXICITY EVALUATION OF AQUEOUS AND HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACTS OF DANIELLIA OLIVERI (FABACEAE) LEAVES

In African traditional medicine, Daniellia oliveri, a species belonging to the Fabaceae family, holds a prominent place due to its use in the therapeutic management of numerous pathologies, particularly fever, diarrhea, diabetes, inflammation, and urinary tract or uterine infections. Despite its widespread use in traditional medicine, scientific information regarding its phytochemical composition and toxicological profile remains insufficient. In this perspective, the present study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of Daniellia oliveri leaves and to evaluate their acute toxicity in order to provide scientific evidence on their safety and therapeutic potential. The phytochemical profile of both types of extracts was established using standard qualitative methods, whereas the acute oral toxicity analysis of Daniellia oliveri leaf extracts was performed in accordance with OECD Guideline 423 to estimate the median lethal dose (LD50) and determine its acute toxicity class. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids, polyterpenes, and sterols in both extracts. These secondary metabolite groups are extensively described in the literature for their diverse biological activities and are likely to contribute to the pharmacological effects of this species. Furthermore, the obtained results indicate that the oral LD50 of both aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts is greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. According to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), this value corresponds to a very low acute oral toxicity, resulting in no mortality or significant clinical signs of toxicity in Wistar rats. The absence of acute toxicity signs observed in this study suggests that Daniellia oliveri leaf extracts possess a favorable toxicological profile, supporting their traditional medicinal use.