Articles
ANTI-SNAKE VENOM PREPARATIONS FROM AFRICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS
We investigated the actions of "Vemkill" against Neurotoxin I paralytic effect on the isolated rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparation.
The antivemom action of "Vemkill" was also investigated against Crotoxin, the venom of the medically important snake in the Americas – Crotalus durissus terrificus (tropical rattle snake) in four-day old chicks.
The electrically stimulated phrenic nerve-induced contractions of the isolated rat diaphragm muscle were completely abolished 3 hours 34 minutes after exposure to Neurotoxin I (25μg/ml). "Vemkill" (1:53 dilution, final bath concentration) completely protected the preparation against Neurotoxin action.
A cut-off time of 24 hours was used for assessment of effect in chicks.
An intramuscular (I/M) administration of "Vemkill" (0.1 ml)1 hour before or after the same route administration of an LD50 dose of Crotoxin (0.073 μg/ml), produced 84.0 ±8.9% protection in chicks.
In control chicks that received 0.1 ml Normal Saline N/S 1 hour before or after Crotoxin, the protection was 44.0 ±4.89%. I/M administration of 0.1 ml, 1 hour preincubated mixture of "Vemkill" (0.1 ml) and Crotoxin (0.073 μg/g) at 37% provided 100% protection in chicks.
The protection in control chicks receiving a preincubated mixture of Crotoxin (0.073 μg/g) and 0.1 ml N/S was 58.0 ±7.48%. An LD100 dose Crotoxin (0.142 μg/g) and "Vemkill" (0.1 ml) preincubated mixture also provided 100% protection in chicks.
The protection of Crotoxin (0.142 μg/g) and 0.1 ml N/S preincubated control mixture was 0% in four-day old chicks.