Phytochemical, Toxicological, and Antimicrobial Evaluation of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Calotropis procera (Ait.) Leaves Used in Traditional Medicine in the Maritime Region of Togo: An Experimental Study

Background Urogenital infections remain a significant global health concern due to their high prevalence and severity. Urogenital infections rank second among community-acquired bacterial infections, with an estimated 150 million cases annually, while the WHO reports over 340 million new cases of genital infections each year. In developing countries, limited access to treatments leads many to rely on medicinal plants. However, antimicrobial resistance has reduced treatment efficacy, increasing the need for alternative therapies. Calotropis procera (Ait.), widely used in traditional medicine, possesses various therapeutic properties. Despite its traditional use, few studies have explored its antimicrobial efficacy in the Togolese context. This study aims to evaluate the phytochemical composition, acute toxicity, and antimicrobial properties of the hydroethanolic extract of Calotropis procera (Ait.) leaves harvested in the maritime region of Togo. Methods Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard protocols. Acute toxicity tests were carried out following Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines 423, and antimicrobial activity was carried out using the agar-well diffusion method against five bacterial and fungal reference and clinical strains commonly implicated in urogenital infections, including Escherichia coli , Neisseria gonorrhoeae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Staphylococcus aureus , and Candida albicans . Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. The mean values were reported with standard errors. Results Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of terpenoids, alkaloids, and coumarins. Acute toxicity tests showed no adverse effects at doses up to 5,000 mg/kg of body weight (b.w.). However, the extract did not exhibit significant antimicrobial activity against the tested strains involved in urogenital infections. Conclusion While the Calotropis procera extract demonstrated promising phytochemical and toxicological profiles, its lack of antimicrobial activity suggests limited therapeutic potential for urogenital infections. Future studies should investigate optimized extraction techniques and additional pharmacological properties to enhance therapeutic potential.