STUDIES ON VENOMS OF THE EGYPTIAN COBRA (NAJA HAJA), THE HORNED VIPER (CERASTES CERASTES), AND THE HONEY BEE (APIS MELLIFERA): COMPARISON SAFETY STUDY FOR 1/10 LD50

Abstract

Nowadays, whole world is interested in venoms of different origins. Snake and bee venom composed of many hundred different peptides, enzymes, toxins and inorganic ions with different biological and pharmaceutical effects. The present study assessed biochemical characterization of 1/10 LD50 by SDS page electrophoresis, total protein, and lethal dose (LD50) of three types of venom [the Egyptian cobra (Naja haja), the horned viper (Cerastes cerastes) and honeybee (Apis mellifera)]. The bio-physiological effect of intraperitoneal injection of 1/10 LD50 dose of different 3 venoms was assessed in vivo using Swiss albino mice groups. N. haja, C. cerastes, and A. mel-lifera, CBC showed a significant decrease in both Hb concentration & RBCs, while platelets count showed highly significant increase. In WBCs both N. haja and C. cerastes showed signifi-cant increase, but BV decreased significantly. Biochemical analysis of mice sera injected with C. cerastes venom showed highest significant increase in liver ALT &AST) and kidney urea and creatinine, as well as cardiac enzyme creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) than cobra venom, but BV showed no significant change compared to controls. Histological examination showed altera-tions in liver, kidney & cardiac tissues of mice injected with both N. haja and C. cerastes while in BV showed normal kidney & cardiac tissues with minor changes in liver tissue outer region.