Biochemical and pharmacological neutralization of Indian saw-scaled viper snake venom by Canthium parviflorum extracts

Canthium parviflorum, a traditional plant used for the treatment of snake bites, was explored for its ability to neutralize saw-scaled viper venom effects. Anti-venom potential of the plant against the venom was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo methods. Ethyl acetate and methanol root extracts inhibited 5´-nucleotidase, phospholipase A2, phosphodiesterase, hyaluronidase, phosphomonoesterase and methanol extract inhibited protease enzyme activities with varying IC50 values. The methanol extract was found to be very effective in neutralizing the pharmacological effect induced by venoms such as procoagulant and fibrinogenolytic activities. Furthermore, direct and indirect hemolytic activities induced by the venom were significantly neutralized by the methanol extract. C. parviflorum methanol extract effectively neutralized lethal toxicity and hemorrhage induced by the venomin mice and chick embryo models. The effective dose of venom lethal toxicity in chick embryo model was 1.276 mg for 2LD50 of the venom. Edema induced by venom was significantly neutralized by the methanol extract and it was also found to be neutralizing myotoxicity in mice model which was evident by a decline in serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activities. Therefore, C. parviflorum possesses potent anti-venom activities which could potentially be used against envenomation of saw-scaled viper.