A protective effect of Symphorema polyandrum Wight seeds against Naja naja venom- Pharmacological evaluation

Symphorema polyandrum Wight (Family Verbenaceae), an ethnomedicinal plant, is reported for its use in the management of snake bite by the tribal people of Odisha. In this study, the efficacy of S. polyandrum was evaluated for its antivenom activity. Seed powder 360 mg/kg was given to envenomed albino rats with sub-lethal dose of Naja naja venom (0.5 mg/kg), in normal saline by intraperitonial injection. Biochemical parameters like serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, serum total protein, albumin, globulin, alkaline phosphatase, blood sugar, SGPT and in haematological investigation only the total count was found significantly reversing the effect of venom between venom control and test drug group. The study also showed that the envenomation of rats led to increase in lipid peroxidation in all the three tissues. Administration of the test drug to venomised rat significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation in liver and heart. Further, it also enhanced the anti-oxidant activity through enzyme catalase in liver and heart.