Pseudospondias microcarpa is used traditionally for treating various diseases. However, although parts of the plant are extensively used in African traditional medicine, no scientific study has been reported on its toxicity Therefore, this study evaluated the acute and subacute toxicity studies of the ethanolic extract of P. microcarpa in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (120-150 g) were treated orally with the extract (30, 100, 300, 1000, and 3000 mg [kg.sup.-1]) or distilled water (10ml[kg.sup.-1]) for 2 weeks and observed daily for general appearance and signs of toxicity In addition, blood was collected for both biochemical and haematological assays. Sections of tissues from liver, kidney, spleen, brain, and stomach were also used for histopathological examination. Administration of the extract for 14 consecutive days caused no deaths, with an L[D.sub.50] above 3000 mg [kg.sup.-1]. Except for lymphocytes (%) that showed a significant decrease ([F.sub.5,23] = 3.93, P = 0.013), all other haematological parameters remained unaffected by the extract. The extract at 100 mg [kg.sup.-1] showed a significant decrease in the levels of triglyceride and very-low-density lipoproteins (both at P