Toxicity evaluation of some traditional African spices on breast cancer cells and isolated rat hepatic mitochondria

► Spices used in traditional African food preparation were investigated. ► Extracts from the four spices revealed toxicity against breast cancer cell lines. ► The extract from Mondia whitei was less cytotoxic to a non-tumor cell line. ► All extracts increased basal hepatic mitochondrial respiration. ► All extracts induced the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.