Toxicological Profile of Jatropha curcas Leaf Extracts in the Traditional Management of Oxidative Stress-Related Disorders

Abstract

Oxidative stress plays a central role in the development of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, cancer, and sickle cell disease. In sub-Saharan Africa, traditional medicine remains a widely used therapeutic alternative, with medicinal plants being extensively used to treat these conditions. Jatropha curcas is traditionally used for its potential health benefits; however, scientific data on its safety are still limited. This study aimed to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of Jatropha curcas leaf extracts in Wistar rats through clinical, biochemical, hematological, and histopathological assessments based on the guidelines of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD-guidelines 425 and 407). In the the acute toxicity study, the extract of the leaves was administered orally in single doses of 5000 mg/kg body weight. In the subacute toxicity study, animals received daily for 28-days the extract at doses of 500, 750, and 1000 mg/kg body weight. In the acute toxicity study, no mortality or major signs of toxicity were observed at the limit dose of 5000 mg/kg, suggesting that the LD₅₀ is greater than this value. In the subacute study, repeated oral administration at different dose levels produced slight biochemical variations, particularly in liver and kidney function parameters, but these changes were not associated with significant histopathological alterations. These findings suggest that Jatropha curcas leaf extracts may have a relatively wide margin of safety, supporting their traditional use. Nevertheless, further clinical investigations and long-term studies are needed to confirm their safety profile.