TITLE:
Evaluation of the Toxicity of Leaves of Five Cassava Accessions Collected at SAMBA in Ombella M’Poko in the Central African Republic
AUTHORS:
Ephrem Frantial Ignaleamoko, Innocent Zinga, Odilon Sylvain Nguerepende, Edith Pulchérie Sako, Christian Malaka, Dimitri Regis Sopke Longue, Christian Simplice Armand Ballot, Mariette Moita Nassy, Alain Romaric Kola Doli, Gildas Doyemet, Benjamin SelekonYalibanda, Simplice Arthur Sombot-Ndicky, Boniface Koffi, Silla Semballa, Emmanuel Nakoume, Héraclite Bachelard Koyanga-Mbalissa, Guy Roland Mbah, Mahamodo Sania, Barbara Ouansaba, Jerry Fulgence Ignaleamoko, Eva Tapande Yakossa, Angela Eni, Fidèle Tiendrebiogo, Justin Pita
KEYWORDS:
Cassava, Acute Toxicity, Subacute, Cyanogenesis, Biochemistry, Histology, Central African Republic
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.16 No.9,
September
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a perennial shrub of the Euphorbiaceae family. Thus, the objectives assigned to this study are to evaluate the toxicity of the leaves of 5 cassava accessions collected in Samba using mice of the Wistar albino provided by the Pasteur Institute of Bangui. The aim was to evaluate the biochemical parameters and the effects of cyanide on the vital organs of mice in the experiment. Leaf powders from five cassava accessions with concentrations, respectively: 100.66 mg/kg (ICRA14), 103.33 mg/kg (ICRA51), 134.66 mg/kg (MAMBERE), 135.1 mg/kg (ICRA21), and 144 mg/kg (DOGBO) considered higher than the FAO standard (10 mg/kg), were incorporated into the standard diet with a proportion of 25% of the leaf powders from the cassava accessions and 75% of the standard diet. These different food formulations were given daily for 14 days to white mice divided into 6 groups of 6 and a control group (exclusively the standard diet). At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed, and blood and vital organs were taken for various tests, including biochemical tests (ASAT, ALAT, urea, creatinine) as well as histopathological examination of vital organs (liver, kidneys, heart). The results show a very significant elevation of liver and kidney markers, accompanied by weight loss and visible changes in the organs examined, highlighting the presence of atrophy, dystrophy, ischemia, and necrosis in the livers, kidneys, and hearts of the mice tested, except for the control group. These results also show that the accessions studied, DOGBO, ICRA21, MAMBERE, ICRA51, and ICRA14, have considerable toxic potential. This information is crucial and raises awareness as a prelude to the solutions to be considered. It is therefore crucial to carry out a thorough assessment before any consumption of leaves and derived products, particularly by-products, in the Central African Republic.