The protective effect of Mucuna pruriens seeds against snake venom poisoning

Tan, N.H. and Fung, S.Y. and Sim, S.M. and Marinello, E. and Guerranti, R. and Aguiyi, J.C. (2009) The protective effect of Mucuna pruriens seeds against snake venom poisoning. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 123 (2). pp. 356-358. ISSN 0378-8741,

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Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance The seed, leaf and root of Mucuna pruriens have been used in traditional medicine for treatments of various diseases. In Nigeria, the seed is used as oral prophylactics for snakebite. Aim of the study To study the protective effects of Mucuna pruriens seed extract against the lethalities of various snake venoms. Materials and methods Rats were pre-treated with Mucuna pruriens seed extract and challenged with various snake venoms. The effectiveness of anti-Mucuna pruriens (anti-MPE) antibody to neutralize the lethalities of snake venoms was investigated by in vitro neutralization. Results In rats, MPE pre-treatment conferred effective protection against lethality of Naja sputatrix venom and moderate protection against Calloselasma rhodostoma venom. Indirect ELISA and immunoblotting studies showed that there were extensive cross-reactions between anti-MPE IgG and venoms from many different genera of poisonous snakes, suggesting the involvement of immunological neutralization in the protective effect of MPE pre-treatment against snake venom poisoning. In vitro neutralization experiments showed that the anti-MPE antibodies effectively neutralized the lethalities of Asiatic cobra (Naja) venoms, but were not very effective against other venoms tested. Conclusions The anti-MPE antibodies could be used in the antiserum therapy of Asiatic cobra (Naja) bites.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information: Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Uncontrolled Keywords: Mucuna pruriens seeds; Anti-snake venoms; Antivenom effects
Subjects: R Medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: Fung Shin Yee
Date Deposited: 27 Sep 2012 03:11
Last Modified: 14 Jul 2017 09:02
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/3698

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