Comparative Effects of Scorpion Venom and Aqueous Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Leaves Extracts on Ccl4-induced Toxicity in Albino Rats (original) (raw)

Hepato- and nephroprotective effects of bradykinin potentiating factor from scorpion (Buthus occitanus) venom on mercuric chloride-treated rats

EXCLI journal, 2016

Bioactive peptides such as bradykinin potentiating factor (BPF), have, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and ameliorative effects in chronic diseases and play a potential role in cancer prevention. It is known that the liver and kidney accumulate inorganic mercury upon exposure, which often leads to mercury intoxication in these organs. In this study, we investigated the effect of bradykinin potentiating factor (BPF), a scorpion venom peptide, on mercuric chloride-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats. We used 20 adult male Albino rats divided into four equal groups: the first group was injected with saline (control); the second group was administered daily with mercuric chloride (HgCl2) for 2 weeks; the third group was administered with BPF twice weekly for 2 successive weeks, while the fourth group was exposed to BPF followed by HgCl2. We observed that HgCl2 treated rats had a significant increase in serum ALT, AST, ALP, creatinine and urea levels compared t...

Effect of a bradykinin-potentiating factor isolated from scorpion venom (Leiurus quinquestriatus) on some blood indices and lipid profile in irradiated rats

Molecular and cellular biochemistry, 2017

Bradykinin appears to be an important regulator of cardiovascular function. It is also being increasingly noted as a participant in actions of drugs that affect the liver, kidney, and circulation. In our previous studies, bradykinin-potentiating factor (BPF) isolated from scorpion venom (Leiurus quinquestriatus) has been shown to be protective against hepato- and nephrotoxicity as well as healing skin burns by reducing oxidative stress in hyperglycemic conditions. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the ability of BPF in treating irradiated rats. A group of rats was exposed to γ-irradiation and subsequently treated with BPF injections aiming to elucidate the possibility of BPF to rescue γ-irradiation harmful effects. As controls, we used γ-irradiation exposed, BPF-injected, and untreated rats. The data obtained showed that the irradiated animals suffered from marked changes of many important blood parameters including red blood cells, leukocytes, platelets, hemoglobin, packed cell volume,...

Protective Effects of Ambrosia maritima and Allium sativum Plant Extracts on Different Tissues of Envenomed mice with Leiurus quinquestriatus Scorpion Venom

Journal of Bioscience and Applied Research, 2022

Background: Scorpion envenomation is a common hazard in many parts of the world and in Sinai, hence great attention must be directed towards such animals to avoid or reduce their dangers. One of the most common antioxidant medicinal plants in Sinai is the Ambrosia maritima or Damsisa plant; it is playing an important role in reducing or neutralizing the toxic effects of venoms. Also, the Allium sativum plant or (garlic) has been used for many years to treat a variety of medical problems. Aim of work: the present study was prepared to illustrate the protective effect of damsisa and garlic plant extracts in different tissues of mice envenomed with Leiurus quinquestriatus scorpion venom. Materials and methods: 48 albino mice were divided into 6 groups. Group I: the healthy control rats received tap water for 4 weeks, and then intramuscularly (i.m.) injected with saline solution and sacrificed after 48 hours from an injection. Group II: envenomed mice were intramuscularly injected with (0.15 µg/g b.wt.) dose of the scorpion venom and sacrificed after 48 hours from envenoming. Group III: mice treated with a daily oral dose of Damsisa plant extract (100 mg/kg) for 4 weeks; Group IV was treated with a daily oral dose of garlic plant extract (220 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Group V: the envenomed mice were injected with the same dose of the scorpion venom and pretreated with oral doses of Damsisa (100 mg/kg b. wt) for 4 weeks. Group VI: the envenomed mice were injected with the same dose of the scorpion venom and pretreated with an oral dose of garlic plant extract (220 mg/kg b. wt) for 4 weeks. All mice were sacrificed after 48 hours from envenoming. At the end of the experiment, some tissues samples from skeletal muscles, testis, and lung tissues were collected for histopathological, immunohistochemical, and DNA ladder assay. Results: envenomed mice had severe cellular degeneration, cytoplasmic vacuolization, cellular infiltrations, and marked dilatation of blood vessels in the skeletal muscles, testis, and lung tissues. This result is confirmed with extreme immunohistochemical changes in lung tissues and the results of the DNA ladder assay revealed increased DNA fragmentation in brain tissues. The envenomed and plant-treated mice revealed marked diminished effects in histopathological alternations in the studied tissues compared to envenomed mice and reduced DNA fragmentation in brain tissues. Conclusion: This study concluded that Ambrosia maritima (D) and Allium sativum (G) plants have a protective effect against scorpion envenomation and especially the garlic plant showed the best results. Our results suggested that the ameliorative effects of these plant extracts may be due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of these plants in combating free radical-induced oxidative stress and tissue injury resulting from envenomation.

Bradykinin potentiating factor isolated from Buthus occitanus venom has a protective effect against cadmium-induced rat liver and kidney damage

Tissue and Cell, 2011

Bradykinin and its related peptides are widely distributed in venomous animals, including scorpion. A peptide fraction isolated from the venom of the Egyptian scorpion Buthus occitanus was proved to have a bradykinin-potentiating activity. The aim of the present study was conducted to investigate whether the treatment with bradykinin potentiating factor (BPF) offers more beneficial effects in reversing cadmiuminduced oxidative stress in rat liver and kidney. Adult male rats, equally divided into control and two treated groups, 10 animals in each group. group (I) was orally given (1 ml) saline and served as a control group; group (II) of rats was given cadmium chloride (4 mg/kg) alone, once daily an oral dose for 7 successive days; group (III) of rats was given ip injection (1 ml) BPF, once daily a dose for 7 successive days prior to CdCl 2 treatment and on the next 7 successive days with the same dose of cadmium as group II. Both organs were subjected to histopathological analysis with the light microscope. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum were measured as indicators of the liver function. As parameters of the kidney function, creatinine, uric acid and urea concentrations in serum were determined. Also, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were determined in both tissues. Cd exposure caused a significant decrease or inhibition in the activities of GSH, SOD, and CAT, with significant increase in the level of MDA, in versus to control groups in both liver and kidney. Also, when Cd was treated in co-administration with BPF induced increase or stimulation in the activity of GSH, SOD, and CAT, with significant decrease in the level of MDA when compared to Cd group in both organs. Histopathological changes of liver and kidney were also in accordance with the biochemical findings. Our data showed that Cd treatment induced histopathological alteration in the liver, severe hydropic degeneration in centrolobular zones. Inflammatory cells infiltration around the congested central vein and an obvious injury in some renal tubules. Bradykinin potentiating factor (BPF) administration prevented the histopathological alterations which observed in Cd-groups and both liver and kidney had essentially normal appearance in histopathological examination. In conclusion, BPF markedly ameliorated cadmium-induced liver and kidney tissue damage as evidenced by histological and biochemical examinations and acts as a potent scavenger of free radicals to protect the liver and kidney against the deleterious effect of acute cadmium intoxication.

Anti-scorpion venom activity of Andrographis paniculata: A combined and comparative study with anti-scorpion serum in mice

Ancient Science of Life, 2013

S corpion sting is one of the common life threatening acute medical emergencies and also can be considered as a neglected public health problem in tropical and subtropical countries including India. [1] In Maharashtra, particularly in Vidarbha and Konkan region, scorpion sting is a major health hazard especially, during paddy harvesting season immediately after rainy season leading to high mortality and ABSTRACT Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the anti-scorpion venom (ASV) property of Andrographis paniculata in comparison with anti-redscorpion venom serum and this study aimed to determine its combined effect with anti-redscorpion venom serum. Materials and Methods: Ethanolic extract of the plant AP was obtained using soxhlet apparatus. Swiss albino mice weighing 20-30g were used. Lyophilized venom sample of Mesobuthus tamulus and Lyophilized monovalent enzyme refined immunoglobulin anti-scorpion venom serum (ASV) was used. Using lethal dose of scorpion venom (25.12μg/g), the venom neutralizing ability of plant extract (1 g/kg) and ASV individually as well as in combination was studied using in vivo and in vitro methods. Mean survival time, protection fold and percentage survival of animals over the period of 24 h were the parameters used. Statistical Analysis: Results were analyzed using Student's t-test. Results: Ethanolic extract of AP (1 g/kg) showed some protective effect against scorpion venom. ASV was found more effective than plant extract. But, when plant extract and ASV were used in combination, potency of ASV was found to be increased both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusions: Present study demonstrates that, both plant extract and ASV have their own scorpion venom neutralising ability in vivo and in vitro, but their combination is most effective in venom neutralizing ability.

Evaluation of Antisnake Venom Activities of Some Medicinal Plants Using Albino Rats

Scholars International Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine

Snakebite is a neglected public health problem in most of the countries in Africa. Its means of treatment is parenteral administration of serum-based antivenins. But due to the limitations of these antivenins, snakebite victims mostly depend on herbal antidotes. Hence, this research was designed to screen the antisnake venom activity of some medicinal plants on mixed venoms of Naja nigricollis, Echis ocellatus and Bitis arietans using Albino rats' model. Information on the medicinal plants used for the treatment of snakebite envenomation in Zuru Local Government Area was obtained through ethnobotanical survey. Four (4) most cited plants; Parkia biglobosa stem-bark, Calotropis procera root, Sterculia setigera stem-bark and Bauhinia rufescens seed were selected and screened against the venom-induced lethal effect on albino rats. Albino rats of both sexes were randomly divided into six (6) groups of five (5) rats each and used for the antivenom screening of each plant methanol extract. Group 1 received distilled water. Groups 2, 3 and 4 received 0.8mg/kg b. wt. of the venom mixture, but 3 and 4 were treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg b. wt. of an extract respectively. Group 5 received 400mg/kg b. wt. of an extract only. Finally, group 6 received 0.8mg/kg b. wt. of the venom mixture and treated with standard antivenin. The plants' extracts exhibited antivenom activities with varying degrees of efficacy. At 400mg/kg b. wt. of extract, the recorded mean animal survival times were 18.52 ± 1.50h, 14.04 ± 4.79h, 18.66 ± 4.32h and 5.96 ± 2.79h for C. procera root, P. biglobosa stem-bark, B. rufescens seed and S. setigera stem-bark extracts respectively. Thus, B. rufescens methanol seed extract was the most potent antivenom agent. These findings suggest that, the selected plants have potent antivenom activity on the selected snake venoms and can serve as lead for the development of safe, readily available and affordable antivenoms that can substitute the use of serum-based antivenins.

Investigation of the Behavioral and Clinical Effects of Black Scorpion Venom in Albino Rats

Iranian Journal of Toxicology

Background: Aggressive behaviors in human and experimental animals have previously been described following induced pain. Aggression in rodents has been attributed to genetic and environmental factors, such as pain. A major complication of scorpion envenomation is severe pain in animals and humans. Considering that envenomation by black scorpion (Androctonus crassicauda) induces severe pain, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of the venom on inducing aggressive behaviors in rats due to the pain from stinging. Methods: Rats in the control (n=20) and experimental groups (n=20) were injected with 0.5ml physiological serum or 1µg/ml of black scorpion venom dissolved in 0.5ml physiological serum, respectively, in the dorsal vein near the tail. Changes in behaviors were monitored photographically among the rats in both groups. Results: Following the injection of the scorpion venom, considerable agitation and fights occurred among the experimental rats, presumably d...

Effect of scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus (H&E) venom on the clinical chemistry parameters of the rat

Toxicology Letters, 1992

The effects of scorpion Leiurus quinquestriarus (H&E) venom collected from the South Sinai region, Egypt, on heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were studied after intramuscular administration of 3 different doses (100, 200 and 400 ,@kg) to anesthetized rats. The effects of adrenergic and cholinergic blocking agents on the venom-induced HR and MAP changes were also evaluated. In two groups of rats, propranolol or atropine were given before the venom administration. In the third group the venom was given before the injection of propranolol and atropine in combination. HR was measured by using a cardiotachometer coupler connected to an ECG coupler. MAP was calculated from the recorded arterial blood pressure (ABP) after catheterization of the left common carotid artery. Venom doses of 100 and 200 pg/kg produced tachycardia with a dose-response relationship, whereas 400 pg!kg evoked sinus tachycardia followed by bradycardia then tachycardia. MAP was elevated after the administration of each dose and reached its maximum value after 60 min with a dose-response relationship. Sinus, atria1 and ventricular arrhythmias were observed from the recorded ECG during the time studied. This study revealed that the venom has pressor and depressor effects which are mediated through the autonomic nervous system. Propranolol reduced the stimulatory effects of the highest dose of the venom while atropine was effective in eliminating the depressor effect of the venom on HR. The arrhythmias induced by the venom were blocked by the injection of the two blockers and are assumed to be due to the release of catecholamines and acetylcholine.