Speaker
Description
Rosa damascena, cultivated in Morocco since the 10th century, holds a prominent place in traditional medicine due to its therapeutic properties. In the Dades Valley, the cultivation and processing of this plant represent a vital source of income for local communities. Given its increasing use in health-related applications, assessing its safety is essential. Additionally, this cultivation plays a key role in preserving local biodiversity and maintaining the ecological balance of the region. This study aimed to evaluate the acute oral toxicity of the hydroethanolic extract of Rosa damascena flowers from the Dades Valley (RDFE) in Swiss albino male mice.
For the acute toxicity assay, two groups of mice (n = 6 per group) were used. The control group received distilled water, while the treated group received a single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg of RDFE. Over a 14-day observation period, animals were monitored daily for signs of toxicity, behavioral changes, body weight variations, and mortality. At the end of the experiment, biochemical analyses and histopathological examinations of liver and kidney tissues were conducted to further evaluate potential toxicity.
Therefore, no mortality, behavioral abnormalities, or significant weight changes were observed in the treated group. Biochemical parameters remained within normal ranges, and histological analysis of the liver and kidneys revealed no structural alterations compared to the control group. These findings suggest that the LD₅₀ of RDFE is greater than 2000 mg/kg.
In conclusion, this study demonstrates that RDFE is non-toxic at the tested dose under acute exposure conditions. However, further research is required to assess its long-term safety and potential toxicological effects in humans.
Keywords : Rosa damascena, Dades valley, Acute toxicity.
