Studies on Antivenom Activity of Aristolochia indica Plant Extract Against Red Scorpion Venom by in Vivo and in Vitro Methods

Objective: Mesobuthus tumulus is the most lethal among all poisonous species of scorpion. Aristolochia indica is one of the plants which have long been used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of poisoning by animal bites. Hence the study was planned to evaluate the ethanolic extract of Aristolochia indica for the treatment of Mesobuthus tamulus envenoming. Materials and Methods: Calculation of LD99 of Mesobuthus tamulus venom was done using Turner’s method. Acute toxicity and Neutralization of the lethal venom effect of Mesobuthus tamulus venom by plant extract at the dose of 1gm/kg and 2gm/kg in vivo was seen. Results: The LD99 of Mesobuthus tamulus venom from this study was determined to be 22.6μg/gm. In the acute toxicity and in vivo neutralization study plant extract at the dose of 1gm/kg and 2gm/Kg resulted in mean survival of 59mins and 51mins respectively. Neutralization of the lethal venom effect by plant extract at the dose of 1gm/kg and 2gm/kg by Alam and Gome’s method showed mean survival of 88 mins and 75 mins respectively. Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of Aristolochia indica has protective effect against the Red Scorpion Venom and shows 50% survival benefits in mice.