Abstract
BackgroundSnakebites are considered a neglected tropical disease that affects thousands of people worldwide. Although antivenom is the only treatment available, it is associated with several side effects. As an alternative, plants have been extensively studied in order to obtain an alternative treatment. In folk medicine, Azima tetracantha Lam. is usually used to treat snakebites. The present study aims to provide a scientific explanation for the use of this plant against snakebite. The extracts of shade dried leaves of A. tetracantha were tested for in vitro inhibitory activity on toxic venom enzymes like phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, acetylcholinesterase, hyaluronidase etc. from Bungarus caeruleus and Vipera russelli venoms.ResultsThe ethylacetate extract rendered a significant inhibitory effect on the phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, phospholipase A2 and acetylcholinesterase enzymes.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that ethylacetate extract of A. tetracantha leaves possesses compounds that inhibit the activity of toxic enzymes from Bungarus caeruleus and Vipera russelli venom. Further pharmacological and in vivo studies would provide evidence that this substance may lead to a potential treatment against these venoms.
Highlights
Snakebites are considered a neglected tropical disease that affects thousands of people worldwide
The present study investigates the neutralizing activity of A. tetracantha plant extracts on krait and Russell’s viper venom toxic enzymes by in vitro methods
5′ Adenosine mono phosphate (5′ AMP), disodium-pnitrophenol phosphate, L-leucine, diansidine hydrochloride, horseradish peroxidase, 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), acetylthiocholine iodide, hyaluronic acid, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, lecithin were purchased from Himedia Laboratories (India) and casein from Sigma Aldrich Laboratories (USA)
Summary
Snakebites are considered a neglected tropical disease that affects thousands of people worldwide. The most common poisonous snakes in the country are cobra (Naja naja), krait (Bungarus caeruleus), Russell’s viper (Daboia russelli) and saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus). The former two belong to Elapidae and the latter two belong to Viperidae [3]. The venoms of cobra and krait are neurotoxic, that is, they affect the victim’s central nervous system and cause heart failure Their venom possesses several proteins, Presently, antivenom immunotherapy is the only treatment available against snake envenomation. The side effects of antivenom include anaphylactic shock, pyrogen reaction and serum sickness These symptoms are possibly outcomes of the action of non-immunoglobulin proteins present in higher concentrations in antivenom [5]. Considering the limitations of antivenom, investigations on plants are based on the fact that some of their extracts are rich in bioactive compounds with promising antivenom effects [7,8]
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