Research Article, J Forensic Toxicol Pharmacol Vol: 4 Issue: 1
Analgesic, Antipyretic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of the Egyptian Spitting Cobra; Naja nubiae Venom
Hanan JA Altawil1, Mohamed A Abdel-Rahman1, Mohamed S El-Naggar1, Zakaria A El-Khayat2 and Mohamed M Abdel-Daim3* | |
1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt | |
2Department of Clinical Biochemistry, National Research Centre, Dokki, Egypt | |
3Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt | |
Corresponding author : Mohamed M Abdel-Daim Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt Tel: +20643207052 E-mail: abdeldaim.m@vet.suez.edu.eg |
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Received: February 06, 2015 Accepted: March 11, 2015 Published: March 13, 2015 | |
Citation: Altawil HJA, Abdel-Rahman MA, El- Naggar MS, El-Khayat ZA, Abdel-Daim MM (2015) Analgesic, Antipyretic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Egyptian Spitting Cobra, Naja Nubiae Venom. J Forensic Toxicol Pharmacol 4:1. doi:10.4172/2325-9841.1000133 |
Abstract
Objectives: Although many venomous snakes represent a potential human health threat, their venoms provide a rich source of active components, many of which have been recently identified, and used as potential candidates for pharmacological therapeutic purposes. The current study was designed to evaluate the analgesic, antipyretic and antiinflammatory activities of the Egyptian spitting cobra Naja nubiae venom.
Methods: The venom of N. nubiae was intraperitoneally injected at two dose levels (1/10 and 1/5 LD50). The peripheral and central analgesic effects were examined using acetic acidinduced abdominal writhing in mice and tail immersion test in rats, respectively. Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia in rats was carried out to determine the antipyretic activity of the same doses, whereas the anti-inflammatory activity was tested using carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice.
Results: The results showed that N. nubiae venom produced a significant analgesic activity in acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction response in mice and thermal nociception in rat. Moreover, the venom revealed a significant antipyretic effect on yeast-induced pyrexia. In paw edema, venom exhibited a significant activity with a maximum percentage of inhibition reaching 60.1% on both doses after 5 hour treatment, which was more powerful when compared with the standard drug; diclofenac sodium (38.6%). Histologically, the venom induced a moderate inflammatory cells infiltration in the dermis of paw.
Conclusion: These results suggest potential analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activities of the Egyptian spitting cobra crude venom.