Assessment of antibacterial efficacy and toxicological implications of emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator) venom using animal model

Abstract

This research work was carried out by collecting 50 Pandinus imperator Scorpions and ascetically extracting venom locally from them and testing the venom on some selected bacteria. The extracted venom used was both in the lyophilized and crude (non-lyophilized) state to determine their different efficacy and was passed through a membrane filter to ensure sterility. Bacterial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Acetinibacter baumannii) were isolated from drinking water sources of the University of Abuja after which it was preserved in slant for further use. Serotyped bacteria were also obtained and used in this study. Appropriate differential and selective agar were used to culture and sub-culture the isolates and serotyped while Analytical Profile Index (API) kits were used to confirm the isolated bacteria. A sensitivity test was carried out on each bacterium with the venom at concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% for crude venom while 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/ml for the lyophilized venom, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration were also determined. The result shows lowest zone for crude venom against isolated bacteria was 3mm at 25% against Acinetobacter baumanni while the highest was 11.5 mm at 100% against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the lowest for crude venom against serotyped was 4 mm at 25% against Acinetobacter baumanni and highest was 12.2 mm at 100% against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, lowest zone for lyophilized venom against isolated bacteria was 2.8 mm at 10 mg/ml against Acinetobacter baumanni while highest was 10.8 mm at 40 mg/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, also the lowest for lyophilized venom serotyped was 3.8 mm at 10 mg/ml against Acinetobacter baumanni and highest was 11.5 mm at 40 mg/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The lowest MIC was 25% and 20 mg/ml while the highest was 50% and 30 mg/ml, the lowest MBC was 50% and 30 mg/ml while the lowest was 75% and 40 mg/ml. The toxicity of the venom was carried out by testing the venom on mice which shows no harmful effect on them. ANOVA statistical analysis carried out showed no significant difference in the activities of both venom states.