Abstract
<em>Uvaria chamae</em> is a well known medicinal plant in Nigerian traditional medicine for the management of many diseases, but investigations concerning its pharmacological characteristics are rare. In this study, we evaluate its venom neutralizing properties against <em>Naja nigricollis</em> venom in rats. Freshly collected <em>Uvaria chamae</em> leaves were air dried, powdered and extracted in methanol. To study the antivenom properties, albino rats were orally administered with a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight and 1 h later, the venom was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.08 mg/kg body weight of rats. Albino rats (male) weighing between 180-200 g were randomly divided into five (5) groups of three (3). Groups 1-5 received water, normal saline, venom, <em>Uvaria chamae</em> and venom, <em>Uvaria chamae</em>, respectively. Blood clothing time, bleeding time, antipyretic activity, haemoglobin, RBC, WBC, creatine kinase, AST, ALP and ALT activities total protein antioxidant activity and some blood electrolytes, plasma urea and uric acid were measured. Our results showed that <em>Uvaria chamae</em> methanol extract neutralized some biological effects of <em>Naja nigricollis</em> venom. The venom increased the rectal temperature, enzyme activities, bleeding time and other blood parameters. The plant extract was able to reduce these parameters in the extract treated groups. Details of the results are discussed. From this study, it is clear that <em>U. chamae</em> leaf extract had <em>antivenom</em> activity in animal models. The above results indicate that the plant extract possess potent snake venom neutralizing capacity and could potentially be used for therapeutic purpose in case of snake bite envenomation.
Highlights
Snake venom is a complex mixture of many substances, such as toxins, enzymes, growth factors, activators and inhibitors with a wide spectrum of biological activities (Theakston, 1983; Rahmy and Hemmaid, 2000)
Application of medicinal plants with anti-snake venom activities might be useful as first aid treatment for victims of snake bites, which is important in local areas where antivenoms are not readily available (Otero et al, 2000b, c; Nunez et al, 2004; Sanchez and Rodriguez-Acosta, 2008)
Snake bite is an important cause of morbidity and mortality and is one of the major health problems in Nigeria
Summary
Snake venom is a complex mixture of many substances, such as toxins, enzymes, growth factors, activators and inhibitors with a wide spectrum of biological activities (Theakston, 1983; Rahmy and Hemmaid, 2000). They are known to cause different metabolic disorders by altering the cellular inclusions and enzymatic activities of different organs. Antivenoms have some disadvantages, limiting their efficient use (Chippaux and Goyfton, 1998; Heard et al, 1999; Da silva et al, 2007) For example they can induce adverse reactions ranging from mild symptoms to serious (anaphylaxis) and in addition, they do not neutralize the local tissue damage (Gutierrez et al, 2009)
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