Naja naja karachiensis Envenomation : Biochemical Parameters for Cardiac, Liver, and Renal Damage along with Their Neutralization by Medicinal Plants

Abstract EN

Naja naja karachiensis envenomation was found to hit more drastically heart, liver, and kidneys.

400 μg/kg of venom-raised moderate serum levels of ALT (72±4.70 U/L, 0.1>P>0.05), AST (157±24.24 U/L, 0.1>P>0.05), urea (42±3.08 mg/dL, 0.05>P>0.02), creatinine (1.74±0.03 mg/dL, 0.01>P>0.001), CK-MB (21±1.5 U/L, 0.05>P>0.02), and LDH (2064±15.98 U/L, P<0.001) were injected in experimental rabbits.

However, lethality was enhanced with 800 μg/kg of venom in terms of significant release of ALT (86±5.0 U/L, 0.05>P>0.02), AST (251±18.2 U/L, 0.01>P>0.001), urea (57.6±3.84 mg/dL, 0.02>P>0.01), creatinine (2.1±0.10 mg/dL, 0.02>P>0.01), CK-MB (77±11.22 U/L, 0.05>P>0.02), and LDH (2562±25.14 U/L, P≪0.001).

Among twenty-eight tested medicinal plant extracts, only Stenolobium stans (L.) Seem was found the best antivenom (P>0.5) compared to the efficacy of standard antidote (ALT =52.5±3.51 U/L, AST =69.5±18.55 U/L, urea =31.5±0.50 mg/dL, creatinine =1.08±0.02 mg/dL, CK-MB =09±0.85 U/L, and LDH =763±6.01 U/L).

Other plant extracts were proved less beneficial and partly neutralized the toxicities posed by cobra venom.

However, it is essential in future to isolate and characterize bioactive compound(s) from Stenolobium stans (L.) Seem extract to overcome the complications of snake bite.