Toxicological Survey of African Medicinal Plants

PrefaceList of Contributors1. Toxicological Societies in Africa: Roles and Impact in Policy Making and Living Conditions 1.1 Introduction1.2 Toxicological Societies in Africa1.3 Interactions Between African Societies of Toxicological Sciences with European and American Societies1.4 The Role of African Societies of Toxicological Sciences in Government Policy Making1.5 Information Resources in Toxicology1.6 Conclusions and RecommendationsReferences2. Ethical Issues for Animal Use in Toxicological Research in Africa 2.1 Introduction2.2 Definitions2.3 Ethical Aspects of Medicinal Plants in Africa2.4 The Importance of Animals in Toxicological Studies2.5 Guidelines of Animal Research Ethics2.6 Animal Welfare Issues2.7 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees2.8 Health Research Ethics in Africa2.9 Challenges of Research Ethics in Africa2.10 Laws of Animal Research Ethics in Africa2.11 ConclusionsAcknowledgmentsReferences3. Critical Review of the Guidelines and Methods in Toxicological Research in Africa 3.1 Introduction3.2 Need for Toxicity Testing3.3 Acute Toxicity Testing3.4 Alternatives Methods for the Oral LD50 Test3.5 ConclusionReferences4. Discordant Results in Plant Toxicity Studies in Africa: Attempt of Standardization 4.1 Introduction4.2 Toxicological Evaluation: Parameters and Interpretation4.3 Standard Values for Parameters in Toxicological Survey4.4 ConclusionReferences5. Acute and Subacute Toxicities of African Medicinal Plants 5.1 Introduction5.2 The Acute and Subacute Effects of Medicinal Plants5.3 Experimental Models for Toxicological Studies5.4 The Significance of LD50 in Acute Toxicity Screenings5.5 Limitations of the Study of the Acute and Subacute Toxicities of Medicinal Plants5.6 African Plants Screened for Their Acute and Subacute Toxicities5.7 ConclusionReferences6. Subchronic and Chronic Toxicities of African Medicinal Plants 6.1 Introduction6.2 Subchronic and Chronic Toxicity Effect of Medicinal Plants6.3 Methods, Parameters, and Data Interpretation in Subchronic and Chronic Toxicity Screenings Worldwide and in Africa6.4 Animals Used in Subchronic and Chronic Toxicity Screenings6.5 Observable Symptoms and Signs in Subchronic and Chronic Toxicity Screenings6.6 Limitations of the Study of the Subchronic and Chronic Toxicity of Medicinal Plants6.7 African Plants Screened for Their Subchronic and Chronic Toxicity6.8 ConclusionReferences7. Toxic Plants Used in African Traditional Medicine 7.1 Introduction7.2 Toxic Symptoms of Medicinal Plants7.3 Toxicity of African Medicinal Plants7.4 Toxic African Medicinal Plants as Identified by Their Medium Lethal Doses (LD50) Values and Induced Physical Symptoms7.5 Toxic African Medicinal Plants as Identified by Biochemical Indices7.6 ConclusionReferences8. Cytotoxicity of African Medicinal Plants Against Normal Animal and Human Cells 8.1 Introduction8.2 Necessity for Cytotoxicity Testing8.3 Limitations of Cytotoxicity Testing8.4 Different Types of Cytotoxicity Assay8.5 xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analyzer and SpectraMax i3 System8.6 Cytotoxicity of African Medicinal Plants8.7 ConclusionAcknowledgmentsReferences9. Genotoxicity and Teratogenicity of African Medicinal Plants 9.1 Introduction9.2 Methods Used in Genotoxicity Assays9.3 Methods Used in Teratogenicity Assays9.4 Medicinal Plants with Genotoxic Effects9.5 Medicinal Plants with Teratogenic Effects9.6 ConclusionReferences10. Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity of African Medicinal Plants 10.1 Introduction10.2 Medicinal Plants with Mutagenic Effects10.3 Medicinal Plants with Carcinogenicity Effects10.4 Methods in Mutagenic Study of Medicinal Plants10.5 Methods in Carcinogenicity Survey of Medicinal Plants10.6 Interpretation of Data in Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity Studies and Significance of Test Results10.7 African Medicinal Plants Screened for Their Mutagenicity10.8 ConclusionReferences11. Hepatotoxicity and Hepatoprotective Effects of African Medicinal Plants 11.1 Introduction11.2 The Liver and the Metabolism of Xenobiotics11.3 Methods in Hepatotoxic and Hepatoprotective Screenings of Medicinal Plants11.4 Hepatotoxic Medicinal Plants of Africa11.5 Hepatoprotective Medicinal Plants of Africa11.6 ConclusionReferences12. Nephrotoxicity and Nephroprotective Potential of African Medicinal Plants 12.1 Introduction12.2 The Kidney and the Metabolism of Xenobiotics12.3 Known Nephrotoxic and Nephroprotective Plants12.4 Methods in Nephrotoxic and Nephroprotective Screenings of Medicinal Plants12.5 Nephrotoxic Medicinal Plants of Africa12.6 Nephroprotective Medicinal Plants of Africa12.7 ConclusionReferences13. Cardiotoxicity and Cardioprotective Effects of African Medicinal Plants 13.1 Introduction13.2 The Heart and the Metabolism of Xenobiotics13.3 Known Cardiotoxic and Cardioprotective Plants13.4 Methods in Cardiotoxic and Cardioprotective Screenings of Medicinal Plants13.5 Cardiotoxic Medicinal Plants of Africa13.6 Cardioprotective Medicinal Plants of Africa13.7 ConclusionReferences14. Neurotoxicity and Neuroprotective Effects of African Medicinal Plants 14.1 Introduction14.2 The CNS and the Metabolism of Xenobiotics14.3 Known Neurotoxic and Neuroprotective Plants14.4 Methods in Neurotoxic and Neuroprotective Screenings of Medicinal Plants14.5 Neurotoxic Medicinal Plants of Africa14.6 Neuroprotective Medicinal Plants of Africa14.7 ConclusionReferences15. Toxicity and Beneficial Effects of Some African Plants on the Reproductive System 15.1 Introduction15.2 The Reproductive System and the Metabolism of Xenobiotics15.3 Known Toxic and Beneficial Plants Acting on the Reproductive System15.4 Methods in the Screenings of Medicinal Plants Affecting the Reproductive System15.5 Reproductive Toxicity15.6 Medicinal Plants of Africa with Effects on the Reproductive System15.7 ConclusionReferences16. African Plants with Dermatological and Ocular Relevance 16.1 Introduction16.2 The Skin and the Metabolism of Xenobiotics16.3 The Eye and the Metabolism of Xenobiotics16.4 African Plants Affecting the Skin16.5 African Traditional Medicines Used for the Treatment of Dermatological Disorders16.6 African Plants Affecting the Eyes16.7 Ocular Effects of Medicinal Plants of Africa16.8 ConclusionReferences17. Toxicity and Protective Effects of African Medicinal Plants on the Spleen and Lung 17.1 Introduction17.2 The Anatomy and Physiology of the Spleen and Lung17.3 The Roles of the Spleen and Lung in the Metabolism of Xenobiotics17.4 Overview of the African Plants Known to Affect the Spleen and Lung17.5 African Plants Affecting the Spleen17.6 African Plants Affecting the Lung17.7 ConclusionReferences18. Safe African Medicinal Plants for Clinical Studies 18.1 Introduction18.2 Some Medicinal Plants with Good Toxicological ProfilesReferences19. Harmful and Protective Effects of Terpenoids from African Medicinal Plants 19.1 Introduction19.2 Plant Terpenoids and Their Medicinal Importance19.3 Toxic Terpenoids and Their Mode of Action19.4 Protective Terpenoids from Plants19.5 Harmful Effects of Terpenoids from African Medicinal Plants19.6 Organ-Protective Effect of Terpenoids from African Medicinal Plants19.7 ConclusionReferences20. Harmful and Protective Effects of Phenolic Compounds from African Medicinal Plants 20.1 Introduction20.2 Medicinal Importance of Plant Phenolics20.3 Toxic Phenolics and Mode of Action20.4 Harmful Effects of Phenolics from African Medicinal Plants20.5 Protective Effects of Phenolics from African Medicinal Plants20.6 ConclusionReferences21. Health Effects of Alkaloids from African Medicinal Plants 21.1 Introduction21.2 Toxic Alkaloids and Their Mode of Action21.3 Alkaloids Involved in Organ Protection21.4 Harmful Effects of Alkaloids from African Medicinal Plants21.5 Protective Effect of Alkaloids from African Medicinal Plants21.6 ConclusionReferences22. Physical, Hematological, and Histopathological Signs of Toxicity Induced by African Medicinal Plants 22.1 Introduction22.2 Methods and Interpretation of Data of Important Physical Parameters Altered in Medicinal Plant Toxicity Studies22.3 Experimental and Plant-Induced Gastrointestinal Disorders22.4 Photosensitivity, Skin Irritation, and Sleepiness Induced by Herbal Medicine22.5 Effects of African Medicinal Plants on Physical, Hematological, and Histopathological Parameters in Toxicological Studies22.6 ConclusionReferences23. Biochemical Parameters in Toxicological Studies in Africa: Significance, Principle of Methods, Data Interpretation, and Use in Plant Screenings 23.1 Introduction23.2 Important Biochemical Indices in Toxicity Studies23.3 Enzymes of Toxicological Relevance23.4 Nonenzymatic Markers in Toxicity Studies23.5 Electrolytes of Toxicological Relevance23.6 Effect of African Medicinal Plants on Biochemical Indices23.7 ConclusionReferences