<i>In</i><i>-</i><i>vitro</i> Antitoxin Activity of <i>Pittosporum n</i><i>eelgherrense </i>Aqueous Bark Extract against <i>Daboia r</i><i>usselii </i>Venom

Abstract

Snake envenomation is a severe and significant global health problem. Until now polyvalent horse antivenom is the only treatment available for snake bite. Many side effects like anaphylaxis, pyrogen reactions and serum sickness is seen on administering horse antivenom. The ancient ayurvedic system of India refers to the usage of plants in management of snake envenomation. In the present investigation, antitoxin activity of Pittosporum neelgherrense aqueous bark extract was tested by in-vitro approaches on Daboia russelii venom. The bark extracts from P. neelgherrense were used to evaluate the in-vitro neutralization tests such as protease, direct haemolysis assay, phospholipase activity, procoagulant, phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase activity. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis from bark extracts was also performed to investigate the bioactive compounds. The in vitro neutralization assays showed the aqueous bark extract contains some bioactive compounds which effectively neutralises the venom induced activities. GC-MS analysis of the plant extract revealed the presence of antivenom compounds which have neutralizing properties on D. russelii venom.