Abstract
The present work aimed to evaluate acute and sub-acute toxicity of cortex cassava crude extract containing scopoletin and cyanide. The limit test method of OECD at 2000 mg/kg was used to determine the LD50 of the crude extract in female Wistar rats, and the sub-acute toxicity was conducted in broilers by incorporating their feed with the cortex powder at 2 mg, 4 mg and 8 mg of powder per 100 g of standard food, corresponding to MIC, 2MIC and 4MIC: those concentrations, respectively, corresponded to .07 μg, .14 μg and .28 μg of scopoletin and 2.8 μg, 5.6 μg and 11.2 μg of cyanide. An oral LD50 greater than 2000 mg/kg was obtained, and the effective antifungal dose was non-toxic. No changes were observed in the rate of biochemical parameters and relative weight of the liver, kidneys and brain of broilers. Any damages were not observed after the histopathological exams of these organs regardless the diet considered, compared to the control group. All results ranging from efficacy and safety of cassava cortex extract containing scopoletin and cyanide allowed us to consider it as biopesticide for staple food preservation against post-harvest losses.