Neutralization of Bitis arietans venom-induced pathophysiological disorder, biological activities and genetic alterations by Moringa oleifera leaves

Abstract

Bitis arietans venom (BAV) is known to cause various pathophysiological disorders by altering the cellular inclusions and enzymatic activities of different organs. Moringa oleifera leaf has been reportedly used for treatment of snake envenoming but there is no information on its neutralizing potentials against Bitis arietans venom. This study investigated the antivenin activity of ethanol crude extract of M. oleifera leaf on B. arietans envenomed rats and its inhibitory effects on some biological activities of the venom. The lethal dose (LD 50 ) of BAV was estimated at 1.5 mg/kg −1 . BAV induced various toxic effects in the in vivo study however, treatment with M. oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) ameliorated BAV-induced hypernatraemia and hypercalcemia. Acute anemia observed in untreated envenomed rats was reversed after treatment with various concentrations of MOLE with a significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent increase in hematological indices. Liver damage in untreated envenomed rats as indicated by higher concentration of serum liver enzymes and higher concentration of antioxidant enzymes were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in MOLE treated rats. Also, BAV exhibited hemorrhagic, hemolytic and coagulating activities which were inhibited in a dose dependent manner by MOLE. A mild DNA fragmentation noticed in tissues of the heart of untreated envenomed rats was ameliorated in the MOLE treated rats. Results obtained in this study indicated that M. oleifera leaf have antivenin activity against B. arietans venom induced toxicities and underscores its use in folk medicine for the treatment of snake bites.

Moringa oleifera Extract Extenuates Echis ocellatus Venom-Induced Toxicities, Histopathological Impairments and Inflammation via Enhancement of Nrf2 Expression in Rats

“…However, M. oleifera extract countered the hemolytic effects of the venom in a dose-dependent manner. This result support earlier findings on blood lytic activity of viper venom and anti-hemolytic effects of M. oleifera extract [20].…”

“…In the phytotherapy of snakebites, effectiveness of Moringa oleifera (Lam) has been ascertained in neutralizing snake venoms of different species [ 19 , 20 ]. However, limited information exists on efficacy of M. oleifera on the treatment of complications arising from envenoming by E. ocellatus .…”

Moringa oleifera leaf fractions attenuated Naje haje venom-induced cellular dysfunctions via modulation of Nrf2 and inflammatory signalling pathways in rats

“…In this study, N. haje venom showed direct haemolytic activity on citrated blood but antivenom and extract partitions of M. oleifera protected erythrocytes from hemolytic effect of the venom in a dose dependent manner. High dose of ethyl acetate partition of M. oleifera showed the strongest anti-haemolytic activity however, the observed effect of M. oleifera is in tandem with previous study against cobra venom [ 18 ]. In addition, N. haje venom exhibited haemorrhagic effects as it contains snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), and haemorrhagic enzymes which damage blood vessels wall resulting in systemic bleeding [ 56 ].…”

“…However, antivenom and various extract partitions of M. oleifera showed ameliorative effects as no remarkable lesion was observed in groups treated with high dose (600 mg/kg) of the extract partitions. Studies have reported the ameliorative effects of M. oleifera extract on histological defects noticed on vital organs following envenoming by cobra and viper venom in rats [ [18] , [19] ]. The anti-venom ability of M. oleifera and ability to neutralize various toxicities induced by N. haje venom could be due to various compounds present in extract partitions.…”

“…Several studies have investigated the reputation of plants in neutralizing the toxic effects of snake venoms with positive outcomes [ [9] , [16] , [17] ]. Earlier studies have documented the effectiveness of Moringa oleifera , a medicinal plant in neutralizing several snake venom induced toxicities [ [18] , [19] ]. Despite the available information on the use of medicinal plant in the management of snake bite, no empirical data exist on the effect of M. oleifera extract on N. haje envenoming.…”