~ 86 ~ Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2020; 8(2): 86-94 ISSN (E): 2320-3862 ISSN (P): 2394-0530 NAAS Rating: 3.53 www.plantsjournal.com JMPS 2020; 8(2): 86-94 © 2020 JMPS Received: 01-01-2020 Accepted: 05-02-2020 Kuissu Mimosette M 1) Department of Animal Sciences, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea Cameroon 2) Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon Enow-Orock George E Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon Mezui Christophe Department of Animal Biology, Higher Teachers’ Training College, ENS, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047 Yaoundé, Cameroon Nkwengoua Ernestine Z Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, P.O. Box 812, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon Nchengang Benjamin Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon Siwe Gael T Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon Tan Paul V Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon Corresponding Author: Tan Paul V Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé verdzekovnso@yahoo.com Evaluation of the toxicity of the aqueous stem bark extract of Enantia chlorantha on some reproductive and developmental parameters Kuissu Mimosette M, Enow-Orock George E, Mezui Christophe, Nkwengoua Ernestine Z, Nchengang Benjamin, Siwe Gael T and Tan Paul V Abstract E. chlorantha is widely used in African pharmacopeia and many patients, including pregnant women, use the bark aqueous extract to treat many diseases. The present work was carried out to investigate the possible reproductive and developmental toxicity that could result when the extract was given to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis. Male rats were crossed overnight each with virgin females. Upon confirmation of mating (day 1 of pregnancy), E. chlorantha extract (0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg BW) was administered once daily to four groups of 16 pregnant rats by gavage for 10 consecutive days (days 6–15 of gestation). On day 19 of gestation, 8 rats per group were sacrificed. The remaining females were allowed to deliver and pup development followed up to weaning. No dam deaths or abortions were recorded during experimentation. On day 19 of gestation, dam body and organ weights and fetal characteristics in extract-treated groups did not vary compared with controls. At delivery, gestation length and neonatal developmental parameters did not significantly varied in extract-treated groups compared with control. At the extract doses of 500 - 1000 mg/kg, persistent cystic glandular hyperplasia was observed in the uteri, as well as increased glandular epithelial cell proliferation. The extract of E. chlorantha in general did not present visible toxic effects in dams and pups treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg dose. Glandular hyperplasia recorded at 500-1000 mg/kg could be considered as toxicity signs. This suggests that the extract must be taken with precaution by pregnant women. Keywords: E. chlorantha, organogenesis, toxicity, reproductive, pup development 1. Introduction The wide use of plants worldwide in the treatment of many diseases is well known since ancient times. The populations that frequently use the plant substances usually believe that they have no adverse reactions or toxic effects. Thus, they rarely seek informations from health care professionals about herbal products [1] . Pregnant women, in particular need always to take into account the risk- benefit ratio before using any drugs or products, be they natural or synthetic [2] , since in this condition, the woman’s metabolism and physiological characteristics are altered to focus almost exclusively on promoting the development of the new being carried in her womb, and there are several substances that can harm the developing fetus [3] . Indeed, every agent given during pregnancy has a tendency to produce some sort of structural abnormality in the neonate at birth until proved otherwise [4] . A birth defect or a congenital malformation is a structural abnormality of any type present at birth. It may be macroscopic or microscopic, on the surface or within the body [5] . Enantia chlorantha a plant widely used in the African traditional pharmacopeia presents many therapeutic properties in various domains: it has antiviral [6, 7] , anti-sickling [8] and antibacterial [9] properties. It is used to treat cough and wound [10] ; diarrhea [11] , jaundice and urinary tract infections [12] , malaria [13] . It can also improve sperm quality [14] . Other findings include the prevention and the treatment of gastric ulcers, including the prevention of the delay in chronic gastric ulcer healing caused by indometacin in rats [15, 16, 17] . The World Health Organization (WHO) has published guidelines in order to define basic criteria for evaluating the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal medicines [18] . The acute and subacute toxicity of the aqueous extract of E. chlorantha have been studied [19] , and the results showed that Enantia chlorantha aqueous extract, up to 5000 mg/kg was not toxic in acute toxicity study, while for the subacute toxicity, observations showed that the extract had toxic effects on liver, kidney and lungs, notably, elevated serum AST and ALT levels, steatosis, intercellular hepatic edema, hepatic vein congestion and