Effects of Tamarind (Tamarindus indicus Linn) seed extract on Russell’s viper (Daboia russelli siamensis) venom

摘要

Snake bite has been regarded as an important health problem in Myanmar sinceearly 1960’s. In the recent years, there has been growing interest in alternative therapies andtherapeutic use of natural products, especially those derive from plants. In Myanmar andIndian traditional medicine, various plants have used as a remedy for treating snake bite. Thepresent study was carried out to evaluate the effects of alcohol extract of Tamarind(Tamarindus indica Linn.) seed on some biologic properties of Russell’s viper (Daboia russellisiamensis) venom (RVV). The Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzyme, coagulase enzyme andcaseinolytic enzyme activities of Russell’s viper venom (RVV) were reduced when mixed andincubated with the extract. When the RVV and the different amount of extracts werepreincubated and injected intramuscularly into mice, all of them survived, but all the mice inthe control group died. On the other hand, when RVV were injected first followed by theextract into mice, all of them died. If the extract was injected near the site where Russell’sviper venom was injected, all the mice survived for more than 24 hours and the survival timeprolonged but they all died within 96 hours. In conclusion, according to the results obtained,the extract neutralizes some biologic properties of the Russell’s viper venom and prolongedthe survival time if the extract was injected near the site where the Russell’s viper venom wasinjected.