Phytochemical and Toxicological Assessment of an Aqueous Stem Bark Extract of Parkia Biglobosa Jacq Used in an Antihemorrhoidal Formulation

Parkia biglobosa is a plant widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including hemorrhoids. Several parts of the plant, including the bark, are used for this purpose. This study aimed to perform phytochemical characterization and evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity and mutagenicity of the aqueous stem bark extract of Parkia biglobosa intended for an anti-haemorrhoidal phytomedicine development. Phytochemical screening was carried out according to the methods described by Wagner and Balt. Acute toxicity was assessed at 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw) in female Wistar rats, subacute toxicity over 28 days in male and female Wistar rats at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw, and mutagenicity over 7 days in NMRI mice at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg bw, in accordance with the adapted guidelines of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The chemical groups detected in the extract were flavonoids, sterols, triterpenes, saponosides, and tannins. In the acute test, no toxic effects were observed; the LD50 was estimated to exceed 2000 mg/kg bw. Also, no major repeated-dose toxicity or increase in micronucleated erythrocytes was noted in the subacute and mutagenicity assessment. As the extract evaluated did not cause any proven mutagenic effects in NMRI mice or any major acute and subacute toxicity effects in Wistar rats, it was considered relatively non-toxic in treated animals at the doses evaluated.