title: Antisnake venom activity of ethanolic seed extract of Strychnos nux vomica Linn.
abstract: The whole seed extract of S. nux vomica (in low doses) effectively neutralized Daboia russelii venom induced lethal, haemorrhage, defibrinogenating, PLA2 enzyme activity and Naja kaouthia venom induced lethal, cardiotoxic, neurotoxic, PLA2 enzyme activity. The seed extract potentiated polyvalent snake venom antiserum action in experimental animals. An active compound (SNVNF) was isolated and purified by thin layer chromatography and silica gel column chromatography, which effectively antagonised D. russelii venom induced lethal, haemorrhagic, defibrinogenating, oedema, PLA2 enzyme activity and N. kaouthia induced lethal, cardiotoxic, neurotoxic, PLA, enzyme activity. Polyvalent snake venom antiserum action was significantly potentiated by the active compound. Spectral studies revealed it to be a small, straight chain compound containing methyl and amide radicals. Detailed structure elucidation of the compound (SNVNF) is warranted before its clinical trials as a snake venom antagonist.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxinology and Experimental Pharmacodynamics, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta 92, A.P.C. Road, Calcutta 700 009, India.
authors.forename: Ipshita
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chakravarty
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004487:Edema; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000378:metabolism; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism*; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012910:Snake Venoms; D000431:Ethanol; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D005340:Fibrinogen; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2