Phytochemical and acute toxicity study of aqueous extract of Bambusa vulgaris leaves on Wistar rats

Background: Bambusa vulgaris (Poaceae) is widely used in the traditional pharmacopoeia to treat various pathologies like typhoid fever, diabetes, hypertension and malaria. Methods: The present study has demonstrated the different phytochemicals and the acute toxicological study of the aqueous extract of Bambusa vulgaris leaves (EABV). For the phytochemical study, determination of secondary metabolites by tube tests was used. The acute toxicity of EABV was performed according to the guidelines of OECD 423. The doses of 300 mg/kg and 2,000 mg/kg were administered by intraperitoneal route to rats. Clinical signs, mortality, body weight, relative weight of organs, hematological and biochemical were noted. Results: Bambusa vulgaris leaves contain flavonoids, polyphenols, catechin tannins, saponins, and alkaloids. The toxicological study of EABV reveals that the LD50 is comprised between 500 mg/kg and 2,000 mg/kg. The animals exhibited several behavioral disorders. The body mass gain and the relative mass of the organs have not been modified. However, the single injection of EABV induces a variation of some hematological and biochemical parameters of the animals at the end of the experiment. Conclusion: Bambusa vulgaris leaves contain polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, catechic tannins and saponosides. It’s weakly toxic when injected intraperitoneally and affects hematological and liver parameters