ASSESSMENT OF ORAL TOXICITY, SKIN AND EYE IRRITATION OF CYMBOPOGON NARDUS (L.) RENDLE (POACEAE) ESSENTIAL OIL FROM BURKINA FASO

Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle (Poaceae) (C. nardus) still known as Ceylon citronella is an aromatic plant imported from India, Sri Lanka and introduced to the rest of the world including Africa. In Burkina Faso, the essential oil (EO) of this plant is used to formulate biopesticides. The objectives of this study consisted of evaluating the toxicological profile of the EO of C. nardus for its safe use. Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity was assessed on Wistar rats and skin, and eye irritant power was determined on rabbits according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines. In Acute oral toxicity test, a single administration of EO at a dose of 2000 mg/kg.b.w. to rats did not result in mortality or sign of toxicity. The LD50 of this EO is estimated to 5000 mg/kg b.w. The 28 days sub-acute toxicity study with doses of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg.b.w of EO did not show mortality in both sexes. Furthermore, there was no significant difference observed in body weight gain, relative organ weights, food and water consumption in test groups compared to control ones. However, there was a significant increase in AST, creatinine levels at a dose of 1000 mg/kg.b.w. and total protein at tested doses in both sexes. The skin and eye irritation studies on rabbit show that the EO had a very weak irritant power on the skin and the eye. These results suggested that C. nardus EO can constitute an alternative to synthetic pesticides and used in biopesticides formulation.