Histopathological Responses of the Heart, Liverand Kidney to Calliandra Portoricensis Extractsin Wistar Rats Challenged with Venom of EchisOcellatus

Onyeama Onyeama

doi:10.7324/japs.2012.2630

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Calliandra portoricensis extracts in ameliorating the histopathological changes in the heart, liver and kidney of wistar rat challenged with venom of Echis ocellatus. A total of 30 rats were randomly assigned into 5 treatment groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 (control) received nothing. Group 2 received 200μg venom/rat. Groups 3, 4 and 5 received, in addition to the same amount of venom, 0.5 ml of 100mg/100g body weight of rat as “antidote” concentration 4 hours after the administration of the venom. The dosages of the venom and the extracts were administered intramuscularly and after 4 hours the heart, liver and kidney were harvested for histopathological study of the changes in these organs. The groups treated with the extracts showed reduction in tissue injury compared to the venom alone, though not as good as the control group. This reduction is more marked in treatment group 4, which is polyphenol-rich and which is believed to be the component that is involved in complexation with the venom. This implies a restoration of these organs to a near normal state after the viperian envenomation.

Highlights

Carpet viper (Echis ocellatus) along with other true and pit vipers, is the venomous snake responsible for most deaths in snakebite cases in the north-eastern and central parts of Nigeria
The results of the histopathological responses of the heart, liver and kidney challenged with viperian venom to extracts of C. portoricensis are presented in plates 1-15
In the venom-treated group two represented by V, the heart portrayed a severe non-bacterial endocarditis and focal areas of myonecrosis, the kidney acute glomerulotubular necrosis and the liver acute nonbacterial hepatocellular inflammation

Summary

Introduction

Carpet viper (Echis ocellatus) along with other true and pit vipers, is the venomous snake responsible for most deaths in snakebite cases in the north-eastern and central parts of Nigeria. If anti-venom administration is initiated rapidly after envenomation neutralization of system effects usually is achieved successfully, but elimination of local tissues damage is a more difficult task. It is important to point out that in Nigeria and elsewhere, the production of antiophidic serum is almost destined or exclusive to human accidents, leaving uncovered animals of high economic value. It has become necessary to look for new methods to neutralize these toxins. Known conventional method of treatment of snake envenomation using PVA had been in existence, this is not readily achievable in rural settings in Nigeria as a result of erratic power supply for the preservation of the PVA. Phytotherapy becomes the accessible and affordable choice of treatment of snakebite victims

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion