Toxicological and phytochemical studies of Aspidosperma subincanum Mart. stem bark (Guatambu)

Aspidosperma subincanum Mart. is widely used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat digestive disorders. In this study, acute and subchronic toxicity and cytotoxicity of stem bark ethanolic extract of Aspidosperma subincanum (EEAs) have been evaluated. In addition, phytochemical analysis was performed. The EEAs had low acute toxicity in mice with LD50 =1129 +/- 154mg/kg p.o. and 397 +/- 15 mg/kg i.p. The LC50 was 1340 +/- 428 microg/mL in the brine shrimp assay. There was no relevance of serious changes in behavioral, hematological and biochemical parameters and no deleterious effect on vital organs of rats that resulted after 30 days daily exposure to 5 and 100 mg/kg of EEAs. Phytochemical analysis of stem bark of A. subincanum revealed the presence of indole alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, steroids and tannins and resulted in the isolation of oleic acid and guatambuine as major constituents. Using the method of the dose by factor approach, the human safe dose was 210 mg/70 kg/day. The EEAs appears to be safe and non-toxic in low doses in rodents and domestic preparations used by population have relatively security.