Anti-Venom Potential of Canthium parviflorum Against Naja naja Venom by In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Abstract

Plant extracts are extensively used in folk medicine to treat the snake bites. In the present study, anti-venom potential of Canthium parviflorum root extracts against Naja naja venom was studied by in vitro and in vivo methods. Ethyl acetate and methanolic root extracts were analysed for in vitro neutralization of 5′-nucleotidase, phospholipase A2, acetylcholinesterase, phosphodiesterase, hyaluronidase, phosphomonoesterase and protease enzyme activities. Neutralization of pharmacological activities like fibrinogenolytic, and direct and indirect haemolytic activities with active methanol extract was performed. Lethal toxicity determination and its inhibition by root extract were carried out in vitro on chick embryo and in vivo on mice model. Further, venom induced edema, myotoxicity and its neutralization were carried out in the mice model. Both extracts inhibited all enzyme activities in a dose dependent manner with various IC50 values. However, only methanol extract effectively neutralized protease activity. Active methanol extract significantly neutralized all the pharmacological activities at various concentrations. Lethal dose (LD50) of venom was 2.5 µg/egg and effective dose of plant was 0.79 mg/egg for 2 LD50 of the venom. LD50 value of venom was 0.38 mg/kg body weight of mice and survival time was prolonged due to plant extract. At 1:10 and 1:20 of venom: plant extract concentration (w/w) significantly neutralized edema and myotoxic effects respectively in mice model. The present study revealed the potential of C. parviflorum root extract for its anti-venom properties and the plants could be considered as a potential source of anti-venom phytoconstituents.