Toxicological study of “Mendim me zõn”: A traditional tea made with Solanum aethiopicum Shum berries

Mendim me zõn is a traditional tea made with Solanum aethiopicum Shum berries; a plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. It is a Bantu beverage consumed for its revitalizing properties. Powdered berries of this plant are now distributed and consumed in many countries around the world. Bioactive substances such as glycoalkaloids, galactosamine and fucose, among others which are potentially toxic, can be found in Mendim me zõn. However, very few studies have looked in the safety of this increasingly popular beverage. The present work aimed therefore to carry out a toxicological study of this drink, focusing on acute and sub-chronic toxicity. To do this, 50 g of powdered berries obtained in the locality of Ngaoundere, Adamawa Region of Cameroon. They were infused in 10 L of boiling water for 10 min. The extract was used to study acute and subchronic toxicity using rats as animal model, during 14 and 42 days respectively. Clinical, biochemical and histopathological analyses were carried out on male and female rats given progressive doses of the extract. The results showed that there was no death at any dose. Signs of toxicity including vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, self-mutilation, apathy, agitation, continuous grooming, drowsiness, stupor, tremors, hair erection, difficulty in breathing and anorexia were not observed in rats. Repeated intake of Mendim me zõn increased appetite and proved to be laxative. Microscopic sections of the liver and kidney showed normal architecture. Blood parameters remained within normal ranges. However, at high doses (1000 mg/kg/day), extract increased erythrocytes while white blood cells decreased in males. In female platelets and mean corpuscular volume increased. With the exception of bilirubin, consumption of extract statistically reduced the parameters linked to renal and hepatic function. These results might suggest that Mendim me zõn is safe beverage.