title: Snake venom neutralization by Indian medicinal plants (Vitex negundo and Emblica officinalis) root extracts.
abstract: The methanolic root extracts of Vitex negundo Linn. and Emblica officinalis Gaertn. were explored for the first time for antisnake venom activity. The plant (V. negundo and E. officinalis) extracts significantly antagonized the Vipera russellii and Naja kaouthia venom induced lethal activity both in in vitro and in vivo studies. V. russellii venom-induced haemorrhage, coagulant, defibrinogenating and inflammatory activity was significantly neutralized by both plant extracts. No precipitating bands were observed between the plant extract and snake venom. The above observations confirmed that the plant extracts possess potent snake venom neutralizing capacity and need further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Sidhra, Jammu 180006, India. iqbalasc@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D007194:India; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D029842:Phyllanthus emblica; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D020950:Vitex
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014757:Viper Venoms