Toxicopathological, proinflammatory and stress response evaluation of Terminalia catappa extract in male Wistar rats

[Display omitted] •Proinflammatory and stress response molecular biomarkers in addition to standard toxicological parameters outlined by OECD were investigated.•Terminalia catappa aqueous leaf extract (TCA) did not alter the appearance and behavioural responses of the animals.•Investigated biochemical, haematological, proinflammatory and stress response parameters remained unaltered in treated rats.•Evidence of mortality was not observed, suggesting the oral safety of TCA.•The toxicological stress response of TCA on heat shock proteins is reported for the first time. The present study was carried out to assess the oral safety, proinflammatory and stress response effect of Terminalia catappa aqueous leaf extract (TCA) in male Wistar rats. The acute and sub-acute oral toxicity of TCA was assessed using guidelines 423 and 407 of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), respectively. Signs of clinical toxicity, morbidity and mortality were observed. The biochemical, haematological, proinflammatory, stress response and histopathological indices were assessed. In the acute toxicity study, no sign of clinical toxicity, morbidity, and mortality was observed for TCA treatment, up to 5000 mg/kg bwt. However, in the sub-acute toxicity study, repeated daily TCA treatment significantly (p