THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF STEM-BARK EXTRACTS OF COMMIPHORA AFRICANA A. RICH. (BURSERACEAE) IN MICE ADMINISTERED WITH THE VENOM OF NAJA NIGRICOLLIS
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF STEM-BARK EXTRACTS OF COMMIPHORA AFRICANA A. RICH. (BURSERACEAE) IN MICE ADMINISTERED WITH THE VENOM OF NAJA NIGRICOLLIS
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Date
2015-03
Authors
ISA, HAMZA IBRAHIM
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Abstract
Commiphora africana is a plant applied at snakebite sites as a traditional remedy in South Africa, Central Africa and Nigeria. The study was aimed at evaluating the effect of Commiphora africana in protecting against Naja nigricollis envenomation in mice. The trial was conducted in three phases each with crude methanol extract (CME) and its n-butanol fraction (NBF). In the first trial with CME, twenty mice (n = 20) were randomly allocated into 4 equal groups and treated as follows; Group 1 = minimum lethal dose, LD99 (9.7 mg/kg) of N. nigricollis venom only, while groups 2, 3 and 4 were pre-treated with the extract at 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg, respectively and 15 minutes later administered with LD99 of the venom. In the second trial, the CME was incubated with LD99 of the venom for 15 minutes and administered to another set of 20 mice randomly placed into 4 equal groups. Mice in group 1 were given the LD99 of the venom only. Mice in groups 2, 3 and 4 were given mixture of the LD99 and CME at 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, in the third trial, 20 mice were allocated randomly into 4 equal groups. All the animals were given LD99 of the venom. Fifteen minutes later, mice in groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated with the extract at 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. The NBF was similarly evaluated for antivenom activity. However, the fraction was tested at 200, 400 and 500 mg/kg. All treatments were intraperitoneal. Treated animals were observed for toxic signs and death over 24 hrs duration. In the first trial, the CME at 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged survival time of mice to 368.50 ± 48.63, 369.00 ± 19.35 and 417.00 ± 19.16 minutes, respectively compared with 240.00 ± 5.49 minutes (control animals). For the second trial, all the animals survived in the treated groups except one mouse that died group 2. In the third trial, the extract at 400 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged the survival time of mice to 423.00 ± 59.06 minutes (Control group = 228.00 ± 7.08 minutes).
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In the pre-treatment phase with NBF, there was significant (P < 0.05) prolongation of survival time to 663.30 ± 134.10 and 706.70 ± 127.40 minutes in mice treated with 400 and 500mg/kg, respectively (Control = 242.00 ± 5.11 minutes). In the second trial using NBF, there were 20, 40 and 80% survival of mice in groups 2, 3 and 4, respectively. In the third trial, mice treated with 500mg/kg of the NBF had significant (P < 0.05) prolongation of survival time to 500.00 ± 98.07 minutes (Control = 240.00 ± 9.28 minutes). The results showed that CME and NBF of C. africana possess mitigating properties on N. nigricollis envenomation in a dose-dependent manner. The extract also has a dose-dependent in vitro venom neutralization effect. These results may explain the basis for using this plant in traditional medicine to treat snake bite envenomation.
Description
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF STEM-BARK EXTRACTS OF COMMIPHORA AFRICANA A. RICH. (BURSERACEAE) IN MICE ADMINISTERED WITH THE VENOM OF NAJA NIGRICOLLIS
BY
Hamza Ibrahim ISA, DVM (A.B.U) 2006 M.Sc/VET-MED/01094/2010-2011
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
MARCH, 2015
Keywords
THERAPEUTIC, STEM BARK