Phytochemical and Anti-Anemic Properties of the Aqueous Extract of Pseudarthria hookeri (Fabaceae) Leaves

In order to contribute to the valorization of plants used in African traditional medicine for the improvement of the health of the populations, we undertook this study to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of an aqueous extract of leaves of Pseudarthria hookeri (Fabaceae), a plant reputed to be anti-anemic. Qualitative phytochemical tests performed with the aqueous extract of Pseudarthria hookeri (Fabaceae) leaves revealed the presence of sterols, polyterpenes, polyphenols, catechic tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones and saponosides. The acute toxicity study of the aqueous extract of Pseudarthria hookeri leaves in female mice gave an estimate, according to the OECD-423 guidelines, of the 50% lethal dose (LD50). The results show that the administration of aqueous extract of Pseudarthria hookeri leaves at a dose of 2000 mg/kg bw and then at a dose of 5000 mg/kg bw did not induce any mortality in these animals during 14 days of observation; this allows us to conclude that aqueous extract of Pseudarthria hookeri leaves is not toxic by the oral route. Anemia was induced by administration of phenylhydrazine hydrochloride (4 mg/kg bw) for 6 days. Oral administration of aqueous extract of Pseudarthria hookeri leaves at doses of 50, 200, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg bw and the reference treatment (Ranferia hookeri) for 6 days did not induce anaemia. and the reference treatment (Ranferon®) resulted in normalization of red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and Mean corpuscular haemoglobin level (MCHL) in anaemic rats compared to the white control rats. In conclusion, this study showed that Pseudarthria hookeri leaves have similar properties to Ranferon® in rats, which justifies the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of anaemia.