Abstract
Bungarus caeruleus (Indian common krait) is a venomous snake that is responsible for most of the snakebites in India. In the present study, we report the isolation and purification of neurotoxin and the biochemical changes and pathological effects induced by injection of purified neurotoxin into rats. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of crude krait venom and the purified toxin. Both the crude venom and a sublethal dose of 60 microg/kg B. caeruleus purified toxin significantly increased the serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and urea (p < 0.05). The crude venom but not the purified toxin increased the levels of lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotranseferase, creatine kinase, and glucose. The kidneys showed congestion of the vessels, hemorrhage, and necrosis in venom-injected but not in toxin treated animals. The results of this study indicate that although crude krait venom has severe lethal, hemorrhagic, nephrotoxic, and proteolytic activities, the purified neurotoxin shows only moderate toxic activity, manifested as prominent local and systemic effects.
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