Original Research Article
Year: 2016 | Month: June | Volume: 3 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 47-55
In Vitro Neutralisation Effect of Acorus Calamus and Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Extracts on Viper Venom
Mrunal Ghag - Sawant1, Nakul Shah1, Sreejith Nair1, Abhay Chowdhary2
1Venomous Animal Unit, Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing, Acharya, Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.2Department of Microbiology Grant Medical College and Sir J. J. Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Corresponding Author: Mrunal Ghag - Sawant
ABSTRACT
Snakebites represent a public health hazard that leads to high morbidity and mortality in the Indian subcontinent. The common poisonous snakes found in India are Cobra (Naja naja), Krait (Bangarus Caeruleus), Russell’s viper (Daboia russelli) and Saw Scaled Viper (Echis Carinatus). Antivenom immunotherapy is the only specific treatment against snake venom envenomation. The use of plants against the effects of snakes bite has been long recognized; more scientific attention has been given since last 20 years. Methanolic extracts of Acorus calamus and Ethanolic extracts of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis were tested for their activity on pharmacological effects like Caseinolytic activity and Procoagulation activity exhibited by the Viperid venoms. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis extracts showed a significant inhibitory effect in both assays whereas Acorus calamus showed a significant effect only in the Caseinolytic assay. The present finding suggests that extracts of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (leaves) and Acorus calamus (roots) possess compounds which inhibit the effect of the enzymatic components present in the venom of the Viperidae family. Further investigations are needed for identification and purification of the active components involved in the neutralization of the viper venom.
Keyword: Pro coagulant assay, Caseinolytic assay, venom, Russell’s viper.