Benjamin Gbolo Zoawe
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Jean-Paul Ngbolua Koto-te-Nyiwa
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Damien Tshibangu Sha-Tshibey
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Patrick Memvanga Bondo
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Dorothee Tshilanda Dinangayi
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This study was carried out in order to investigate the safety of Drepanoalpha hard hard capsules, a phytomedicine used for the management of sickle cell disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the acute and sub-acute administration in Guinea pigs. The hard capsules were dissolved in saline normal solution (NaCl 0.9 %). The animals were randomly selected, marked and divided into 2 groups of 5 animals each (3 males and 2 females) for acute toxicity and 4 groups of 3 animals each for sub-acute toxicity. Those received by gavage a single dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight (B.W.) of Drepanoalpha hard capsules for acute toxicity followed by 125 mg/Kg, 250 mg/Kg and 500 mg/Kg B.W. twice daily for 28 days for sub-acute toxicity and saline normal solution (NaCl 0.9 % solution as vehicle). Hematological, biochemical and histopathological analyses were performed and the behavior of the animals was observed after treatment. The results showed that 50 % of the lethal dose (LD50) is greater than 5000 mg/Kg B.W., and the relative weights of vital organs (kidney, liver, lungs, and heart) collected from Guinea pigs at the end of treatment on D14 (acute toxicity) and D28 (sub-acute toxicity) did not undergone significant changes (p>0.05). The results of haematological (Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Haemoglobin, Haematocrit) and biochemical (ALT, AST, Albumin, Total Protein) tests did not show significant differences between the control and test groups at significance level (0.05 for acute toxicity), while the histopathological study revealed none damage to the various organs excised. In conclusion, the results confirm the safety of Drepanoalpha, as shown in previous studies with lyophilisate and decocate in rats and Guinea pigs. Keywords: Acute Toxicity, Sub-acute Toxicity, Hard Capsule, Drepanoalpha