title: Anti-snake venom activities of ethanolic extract of fruits of Piper longum L. (Piperaceae) against Russell's viper venom: characterization of piperine as active principle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Piper longum L. fruits have been traditionally used against snakebites in north-eastern and southern region of India.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the ability of ethanolic extract of fruits of Piper longum L., Piperaceae (PLE) and piperine, one of the main active principles of Piper longum, to inhibit the Russell's viper (Doboia russelii, Viperidae) snake venom activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anti-snake venom activities of ethanolic extract of fruits of Piper longum L. (Piperaceae) and piperine against Russell's viper venom was studied in embryonated fertile chicken eggs, mice and rats by using various models as follows: inhibition of venom lethal action, inhibition of venom haemorrhagic action (in vitro), inhibition of venom haemorrhagic action (in vivo), inhibition of venom necrotizing action, inhibition of venom defibrinogenating action, inhibition of venom induced paw edema, inhibition of venom induced mast cell degranulation, creatine kinase assay and assay for catalase activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PLE was found to inhibit the venom induced haemorrhage in embryonated fertile chicken eggs. Administration of PLE and piperine significantly (p<0.01) inhibited venom induced lethality, haemorrhage, necrosis, defibrinogenation and inflammatory paw edema in mice in a dose dependent manner. PLE and piperine also significantly (p<0.01) reduced venom induced mast cell degranulation in rats. Venom induced decrease in catalase enzyme levels in mice kidney tissue and increase in creatine kinase enzyme levels in mice serum were significantly (p<0.01) reversed by administration of both PLE and piperine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PLE possesses good anti-snake venom properties and piperine is one of the compounds responsible for the effective venom neutralizing ability of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Progressive Education Society's Modern College of Pharmacy, Sector No. 21, Yamunanagar, Nigdi, Pune-411044, Maharashtra, India. priyank.shenoy@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Nipate
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sonpetkar
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Waghmare
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D031701:Piper; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017840:Daboia; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D014757:Viper Venoms
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000997:Antivenins; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D010880:Piperidines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D012997:Solvents; D014757:Viper Venoms; D000431:Ethanol; D002374:Catalase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; C008922:piperine