Toxicological Studies of Feretia apodanthera Del. Roots

Background Feretia apodanthera , a shrub with twisting branches, has been traditionally used in folk medicine to treat erectile dysfunction and digestive disorders. This study investigates the toxicological properties of the roots of this plant. Results Toxicological evaluation followed Lorke’s method and was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, rats received doses of 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg without any fatalities. In the second phase, higher doses (1500, 2250, 3250, and 5000 mg/kg) were administered, also without mortality. The estimated LD ₅₀ was greater than 5000 mg/kg. Additionally, oral administration of methanolic extracts at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg over a four-week period showed no significant alterations in kidney or liver function compared to control groups. Hematological and biochemical analyses (MID, LYMP, RBC, WBC, GRAN, ALT, AST, ALP, chloride, and sodium levels) also demonstrated no adverse effect. These findings suggest that the root extracts of F. apodanthera is safe for human consumption at tested doses, with no observable toxicity or negative impact on kidney and liver function. Conclusions This study provides insights into the safety and therapeutic potential of these medicinal plants, supporting their continued use in herbal medicine. Human clinical trials should be conducted to validate the efficacy and safety of these plant extracts in treating specific health conditions. Comparative studies with existing pharmaceutical drugs should be explored to determine their potential as alternative or complementary therapies.