Biological properties of some medically important snake species of Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Venoms from eight medically important snake species including three sea snake species, belonging to families Viperidae and Elapidae, were tested for lethal, hemolytic [direct and indirect] edema - inducing and hemorrhagic activities. The species includes five from family Elapidae; Hydrophis cyanocinctus, Enhydrina schistosa, Naja naja. Bungarus caeruleus and Microcephalophis gracilis gracilis whereas three from family Viperidae; Vipera russelli russelli, Eristochphis macmahoni and Echis carinatus. All venom tested moderate to high levels of lethal, hemolytic [both direct and indirect] and edema - inducing activities, except that venoms of snake species of family Elapidae, including the sea snake species, are characterized by low levels or absence of hemorrhagic activity. LD 50 values were found to be 0.39mg/kg 0.41 mg/kg 0.28 mg/kg. 0.30 mg/kg and 0.40 mg/kg for the species of family Elapidae respectively whereas 0.30 mg/kg, 0.26 mg/kg and 0.41 mg/kg for species of family Viperidae