Abstract
Scales of the dorsal portions of shed skin of king cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) was used as the barrier membrane for in vitro permeation of nicotine and phenol at toxic or irritable concentration levels. The scales were placed between solutions of nicotine or phenol in a donor solution at pH 5.6 and a receptor solution at pH 7.4. Cumulative amounts of nicotine and phenol permeated, measured by UV-spectrophotometry which was checked by HPLC, showed a linear relationship with time (r2 > 0.99), giving permeation rates of 3.76, 8241.98 I¼g cmâ2 hâ1 and permeability coefficients of 0.38A10â3, 90.2A10â3 cm hâ1, respectively. Photomicrographs of the scales by scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed 3 layers of which the innermost acting as the permeation barrier. Nicotine and phenol passed the micropits of the outer layer of the scales into the middle space where the compounds being reserved and then permeated the innermost layer of the skin. It is likely that this might be the pathway that these dose-dependent compounds were absorbed through snake skins.
Highlights
King cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) molt periodically and repeatedly giving shed skins which behave as a barrier membrane[1]
Partition coefficient determination: Each compound was subjected to partition in a mixture of n−octanol and citrate–phosphate buffer solution at pH 5.6 (CPS) with initial concentration at 47.38 and 2000 g ml–1 for nicotine and phenol, n−octanol and CPS of equal volume were pre−equilibrated for 1 h at a temperature of 32±1°C
For scales of shed king cobra skin, micropits were observed around the middle area of the dorsal scale and a diameter of as large as 200 nm (Fig. 2a)
Summary
King cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) molt periodically and repeatedly giving shed skins which behave as a barrier membrane[1]. Nicotine, approved by FDA as an insecticide, is a known to be present in cigarettes and used as a drug for smoking cessation therapy. It inhibits the function of acetylcholine receptors located at the neuromuscular junction; the effect is dose dependent. Phenol is corrosive at moderate to high concentration but effective as an antiseptic at low concentration This study was designed to investigate the permeation characteristics of phenol and nicotine alkaloid at toxic concentration levels through shed skin of king cobra and revealed of its structural topography
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