SUBCHRONIC TOXICITY OF TIKONI TEA FROM VITEX MADIENSIS OLIV. LEAVES (LAMIACEAE) AQUEOUS EXTRACT IN THE WISTAR RAT

Vitex madiensis, consumed daily as a tea named Tikoni, is widely used in traditional medicine in Congo Brazzaville to treat fever, pain, inflammation, malaria, dysentery, female infertility, mental illness and epilepsy. Its aqueous leaf extract does not exhibit acute toxicity. Its pharmacological effects against pain, inflammation, insomnia, oxidative stress, and Plasmodium falciparum are very promising. The objective of this study was to investigate the subchronic toxicity of its aqueous extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg orally in Wistar rats over 42 days. Toxicity assessments were conducted on days 14, 28, and 42. The results show that the Tikoni tea aqueous extract does not significantly reduce body weight gain and the growth of certain vital organs. However, liver and lung weights in males, and liver and spleen weights in females, decreased significantly. This extract decreased platelet counts in both sexes and significantly increased leukocyte counts in males. ALT and ALP activities increased significantly in males, while in females, AST, ALT, and ALP activities decreased significantly, and blood glucose levels increased. No significant changes were observed in cholesterol, urea, triglycerides, creatinine, total protein, direct bilirubin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, and MCHC levels.