Medical Plants Aframomum melegueta and Xylopia aethiopica Show Low Toxicity in vitro and in vivo Highlighting their Potential for Therapeutic Applications

Background: We previously demonstrated that crude Hydro-Ethanolic Extracts (HEE) of Aframomum melegueta (AM) and Xylopia aethiopica (XA) exhibited anti-helminthic and anti-inflammatory properties with low toxicity. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the toxicological effects of HEE-derived Petroleum Ether (EF), Dichloromethane (DCMF) and Aqueous (AF) fractions of AM and XA. Materials and Methods: The HEE of each plant underwent bioguided fractionation between petroleum ether, dichloromethane and water, yielding three fractions. For the cytotoxicity test, PBMCs were co-cultured with these fractions for 72 hr and stained with Propidium Iodide. Oral acute and sub-acute toxicities were tested using Sprague-Dawley rats after 14 and 28 days, respectively. Histological analysis was performed on the kidneys and livers after staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Results: HEE-derived fraction showed low cytotoxicity with cell death less than 5%. No signs of toxicity or death were recorded at concentrations of 5,000 mg/Kg and 100 μl/Kg for acute toxicity. The sub-acute toxicity studies showed that fractions do not affect the weight of the rats and no significant changes in whole blood cell composition and biochemical parameters were observed. Histological analysis reveals the presence of inflammatory cells infiltrating with DCMF and EF of AM and XA in liver and kidney sections. Conclusion: These findings highlighted the low toxicity of these fractions, indicating their safety for potential therapeutic use.