Toxicological Study of the Seed Extracts from Dodonaea madagascariensis Radlk (Sapindaceae) , a Malagasy Medicinal Plant

This work was designed to study the seed toxicity of Dodonaea madagascariensis Radlk. (Sapindaceae), an endemic plant to Madagascar with multiple medicinal uses. Using different experimental models of animals, seed methanolic extract of D. madagascariensis (SMED) was found to be toxic to mice (LD50 of 36.12 mg/ kg by intraperitoneal route), chicks ( Gallus gallus domesticus ), juvenile fishes ( Cyprinus carpio ) (LC50 of 4.33 µg/mL) and frog tadpoles ( Ptychadena mascareniensis ) (LC50 of 5.41 µg/mL). Toxicity was ascribed to saponin group only. In mice, SMED developed different symptoms when administered by intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and oral routes. Trailing of the posterior limbs, low body posture, tremors, ataxia, abdominal breathing and at high dose, diarrhea were the most common occurring symptoms. In acute and subchronic administrations, SMED caused damages in the liver, kidneys, lungs, small and large intestines while brain, heart and stomach were not affected. No significant changes on serum concentration of ASAT, ALAT and creatinine were observed after oral subchronic exposure (30 days) to SMED at 12.71 mg/kg. SMED exerted a positive inotropic effect on isolated guinea pig atria at 12.5 µg/mL and had a hemolytic activity. In the light of these preliminary results, the toxicity of D. madagascariensis seeds could be used in the control of harmful cold blooded animals.