Effect of methanolicstem-bark extract of <i>Commiphora pedunculata</i> on plasma recalcification time of <i>Najani gricollis</i> venom treated plasma

Abstract

Several medicinal plants have been used in Nigerian communities as antidotes for snakebite complications without scientific validation. In this study, the effect of the methanolic extract of Commiphora pedunculata on recalcification time of bovine, caprine, ovine and came lid plasma treated with Najani gricollis venom was investigated. The N. nigricollis venom was found to significantly increase (p<0.05) the plasma recalcification time of all the plasma samples. However, the methanolic extract of C. pedunculata at 1, 10 and 100 µg/ml reduced the venom-associated increase in the plasma recalcification time in a dose dependent pattern except for camelid plasma where the effect of the extract was non-dose dependent. This study showed that methanolic extract of C. pedunculata could serve as a prototype for an antidote for the reversal of increase in plasma recalcification time posed by N. nigricollis venom.

Keywords: Commiphora pedunculata, Naja nigricollis, Plasma recalcification time