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Paullinia pinnata L. is a plant widely used in African traditional medicine especially in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This study aims to evaluate the cardiotoxicity of 50% hydroalcoholic extract of the roots of P. pinnata. The result of the acute toxicity test has shown a LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg. During the 28 days subchronic administration, P. pinnata has increased significantly the relative weight of kidney. P. pinnata has induced also a microcytosis and an isolated hypochromia. Renal injuries were observed with doses of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg; and are noted by the increase in blood urea, creatinine, potassium and chlorine. Cardiac disorders characterized by the increase of creatinine phosphokinase with P. pinnata at 800 mg/kg has been noted; as well as cholestasis, characterized by an increase in the ALP at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg. The study conducted on the isolated auricle of guinea pigs, has shown that P. pinnata, at increasing concentrations (0.5 to 2.5 mg/mL) has caused an increase in the force of contraction (positive inotropic effect) and simultaneously a decrease in heart rate (negative chronotropic effect). The positive inotropic effect observed could justify the traditional use of this plant as an aphrodisiac.

Pesticides are more and more used in African countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk and the impact of pesticides on gardener’s health. It is a transversal descriptive study, which referred to vegetable growers, held in Lomé on the period from May 20 to June 5, 2017. Forty-eight (48) growers participated in the study. Men accounted for 70.8% of the study population against 29.2% of women. The level of education was primary (47.9%) in the majority of cases. Married people or couples represented 77.1% of cases. Most gardeners (72.9%) has no training in the use of pesticides. Pesticides were consistently applied (100%), including insecticides (72.7%), herbicides (9.1%), and fungicides (18.2%). Of 20 pesticides collected, 9 (45%) were approved by our authorities. Only 43.8% of growers were supplied with pesticides from authorized structures of agricultural products. Branches of plants (79.2%) were the spray means of most of the pesticides. Most gardeners (79, 2%) did not use personal protective equipment because of lack of resources for 81.6% of them. Water and environment contamination risk by pesticides was known by only 6.3% of gardeners. Among the adverse effects reported, pruritus was the majority in 85.4% of cases followed by headache (70.8%), cough (68.8%), and muscle pain (64.6%). The training of gardeners, monitoring and control of this informal sector, and the monitoring of unregistered pesticides will help to reduce the risk of poisoning of gardeners and consumers of vegetables as well as environmental pollution.