Antisnake Venom Activity ofHibiscus aethiopicusL. againstEchis ocellatusandNaja n. nigricollis

[摘要] The objective of the study is to investigate whether theHibiscus aethiopicusL. plant has neutralization activity against venoms of two clinically important snakes. TheH. aethiopicuswas dried and extracted with water. Different assays were performed to evaluate the plant's acute toxicity and its anti-snake venom activities. The results showed thatH. aethiopicusextract alone had no effect on the viability of C2C12muscle cells, but significantly (P<.05) protected muscle cells against the toxic effects ofE. ocellatusvenom at 55, 150, and 300 μg/mL. The maximum protective effect of the extract was exhibited at 75 μg/mL. The extract significantly (P<.001) inhibited the cytotoxic effects ofE. ocellatusvenom at 300 μg/mL. All rabbits (n=10) and guinea pigs (n=10) were alive after the two weeks of given the lethal dosage 16 g/Kg of theH. aethiopicusextract herbal solution. No abnormal behaviour was observed of both groups of animals. All guinea pigs (n=3) treated with venoms alone (5 mg/kg) died. However, all guinea pigs (n=21) treated with venom (5 mg/kg) and the extract (400 to 1000 mg/kg) survived. Guinea pigs (n=3) treated withNaja n. nigricollisvenom alone (2.5 mg/kg) and guinea pigs (n=21) venom with the extract (400 to 1000 mg/kg) died. TheH. aethiopicuscompletely (100%) blocked the haemorrhagic activity ofE. ocellatusin the egg embryo at 3.3 mg/mL of extract. These findings suggest thatH. aethiopicusmay contain an endogenous inhibitor of venom-induced haemorrhage.

[学科分类] 药学