In vitro and In vivo antisnake venom activity of Coccinia indica L. Leaf

ABSTRACT

In vitro and in vivo antisnake venom activity of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the shade dried leaves of Coccinia indica L.was studied through inhibition of in vitro HRBC lysis and using albino mice in modifying the lethal effect of the test dose of Naja naja venom. The effectiveness of these two extracts were evaluated by i.p administration at two different dose levels five minutes after administration of the snake venom. The LD50 of Naja naja venom was found to be 16 µg/20g body weight. The ethanolic extract of the leaves of C. indica markedly decreased the percentagelmortality in venom induced toxicity in mice at dose level 750mg/kg body weight. The ethanolic extract of C. indica is endowed with significant antisnake venom activity thereby justifying its use in the indigenous system of the medicine