Oral acute toxicity and red blood cytotoxicity of the medicinal halophyte limoniastrum guyonianum leaf extract

Limoniastrum guyonianum is widely used traditionally in North Africa as decoction or infusion to treat various types of infections. However, safety assessment of this medicinal halophyte is still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of the aqueous leaves extract by determining the oral acute toxicity effect on adult mice and cytotoxicity on human red blood cells. No mortality or specific toxic signs were observed. The LD50 can then be estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. The recommended dose used in humans will be a maximum of 500 mg/kg. Histopathological examinations showed alterations that affected both renal and hepatic tissues, being the kidneys more sensitive. Indeed, glomerular necrosis appeared with the first ingested dose (1000 mg/kg bw). In contrast, focal hepatocyte necrosis was noticeable only at a concentration of 5000 mg/kg bw. The cytotoxic study showed a slight haemolysis of 13.52% which demonstrate that the extract does not express a haemolytic activity. Hence, the extract can be safety utilized in folkloric popular medicine as an oral anti-infective.