Anti-snake Venom Activity of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Crinum jagus Bulb

Aim: To determine the anti-snake venom effect of crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts and separated fractions of Crinum jagus bulb on rats injected with Echis ocellatus venom.

Study Design: Evaluation of LD50 of venom, anti-lethal effects of different extract preparations and their effect on neutralising haemorrhage; the hallmark of Echis ocellatus venom toxicity.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry laboratory, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria between March and October 2017.

Methodology: venom was collected by the milking method. Fractionation of crude extracts was done by column chromatography separately with benzene/methanol, acetic acid/methanol and ethyl acetate/methanol. Thirty rats were used determine LD50 of venom while twenty-four albino rats were used in the anti-venom study; divided into 6 groups of 4 rats each. Group one served as the normal control, group two served as venom untreated control while groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 were injected with 0.2 mg/mL Echis ocellatus venom and treated with 200 mg/kg body weight crude extracts, fractions I, II and III respectively then observed for 24 hours. Results: LD50 of venom was found to be 5 mg/mL; column chromatography of crude extracts gave three fractions each designated I, II and III respectively. Phytochemical analysis of both crude aqueous and ethanolic extract of Crinum jagus bulb revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, tannins and phenolics. Only fraction III of both aqueous and ethanolic extract maintained all phytochemicals from the crude. Both extracts and their fractions were all able to neutralise the venom. For the aqueous extract, the crude extract and fraction III gave the best result while for the ethanolic extract, fractions II and III caused the best neutralisation.

Conclusion: Crinum jagus bulb has demonstrated significant anti-venom activity, this can be exploited for the development of new anti-snake venom drugs.