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Local and systemic toxicity of Echis carinatus venom: neutralization by Cassia auriculata L. leaf methanol extract

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Abstract

Viper bites cause high morbidity and mortality especially in tropical and subtropical regions, affecting a large number of the rural population in these areas. Even though anti-venoms are available, in most cases they fail to tackle viper venom-induced local manifestations that persist even after anti-venom administration. Several studies have been reported the use of plant products and approved drugs along side anti-venom therapy for efficient management of local tissue damage. In this regard, the present study focuses on the protective efficacy of Cassia auriculata L. (Leguminosae) against Echis carinatus venom (ECV) induced toxicity. C. auriculata is a traditional medicinal plant, much valued in alternative medicine for its wide usage in ayurveda, naturopathy, and herbal therapy. Further, it has been used widely by traditional healers for treatment of snake and scorpion bites in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. In the present study, C. auriculata leaf methanol extract (CAME) significantly inhibited enzymatic activities of ECV proteases (96 ± 1 %; P = 0.001), PLA2 (45 ± 5 %; P = 0.01) and hyaluronidases (100 %; P = 0.0003) in vitro and hemorrhage, edema and myotoxicity in vivo. Further, CAME effectively reduced the lethal potency of ECV and increased the survival time of mice by ~6 times (17 vs 3 h). These inhibitory potentials of CAME towards hydrolytic enzymes, mortal and morbid symptoms of ECV toxins clearly substantiates the use by traditional healers of C. auriculata as a folk medicinal remedy for snakebite.

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Abbreviations

CAME:

Cassia auriculata leaf methanol extract

CK:

Creatine kinase

ECM:

Extracellular matrix

ECV:

Echis carinatus venom

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

PLA2 :

Phospholipase A2

PPP:

Platelet-poor plasma

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi (Order No. BT/43/NE/TBP/2010; Dated 14-03-2011), SAP and UGC-BSR New Delhi.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interests to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Studies in Biochemistry, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore, Karnataka, India, 570 006

    A. N. Nanjaraj Urs, M. Yariswamy, Vikram Joshi, K. N. Suvilesh, M. S. Sumanth & B. S. Vishwanath

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Karnataka State Open University, Mukthagangotri, Mysore, Karnataka, India, 570 006

    A. Nataraju

  3. Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Napaam, Tezpur, Assam, India, 784 028

    Diganta Das

Authors
  1. A. N. Nanjaraj Urs
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  2. M. Yariswamy
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  3. Vikram Joshi
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  4. K. N. Suvilesh
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  8. B. S. Vishwanath
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Correspondence to B. S. Vishwanath.

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Nanjaraj Urs, A.N., Yariswamy, M., Joshi, V. et al. Local and systemic toxicity of Echis carinatus venom: neutralization by Cassia auriculata L. leaf methanol extract. J Nat Med 69, 111–122 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-014-0875-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-014-0875-3

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