Assessment of the health risk in rats of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids of Vernonia amygdalina Del. used by hepatic patients before their hospitalization at the University Hospital Center (UHC) of Cocody (Côte d’Ivoire)

Vernonia amygdalina is a medicinal plant used in Côte d'Ivoire for the treatment of various diseases, such as malaria and diabetes. This work evaluated the health risk related to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in this plant consumed by liver diseases patients before hospitalization in the department of Medicine and Hepato-gastroenterology at the University Hospital Center of Cocody. The biochemical parameters of the hepatic functions of wistar rats were accessed under repeated administration of the aqueous total extract (EAVA) and pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) enriched extract (EEPAs) prepared from the leaves. Fourty rats were divided into eight groups of five rats each. The doses were 6.25; 12.5; 25 and 50 mg/Kg body weight (BW) for EAVA and 3; 6 and 9 mg/Kg BW for EEPAs during 14 days, twice per days. The results showed a significant increase in transaminase and specific liver protein concentrations, regardless of the type of extracts. High significant increase (p < 0.05) in ALT concentrations was observed with EEPAs. The values were respectively 195.825 IU/L at 3 mg/Kg BW, 215.354 IU/L at 9 mg/Kg BW and 234.748 IU/L at 6 mg/Kg BW. In the control group, a concentration of 84.304 IU/L was recorded. No significant difference between concentrations of ALT of rats treated with EAVA and control groups (p > 0.05). At 50 mg/Kg BW, the concentration was 88.548 IU/L, compared to control group (84.304 IU/L). These results showed a potential exposure of populations to toxic compounds, due to risk related to the consumption of this medicinal plant.