title: Anti-cobra venom activity of plant Andrographis paniculata and its comparison with polyvalent anti-snake venom.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the anti-cobra venom effect of alcoholic extract of Andrographis paniculata.
  
  
  METHODS
  After calculating the LD(99) of snake venom, the venom-neutralizing ability of plant extract at the dose 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg was determined using in vitro and in vivo methods. The alleviation in the mean survival time of the animals were used to infer the antivenom property of the drug after challenging with LD(99) of snake venom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ethanolic extract of plant A. paniculata significantly increases mean survival time and the protection fold, but could not protect animals from death when used alone. The higher dose, i.e., 2 g/kg was found better than that of the lower. ASV was found more effective than the plant extract. When ASV was given along with plant extract, it potentiates its effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observation demonstrates the anti-cobra venom activity of ethanolic extract of A. paniculata which is comparable with ASV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Mamata Medical College, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: S Jhon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Premendran
authors.forename: Kartik J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Salwe
authors.forename: Swanand
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Ranjana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brahmane
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manimekalai