Antivenom Potentials of Some Local Medicinal Plants Against Naja nigricollis Associated Envenoming in North-Western Nigeria

Background and Objective: Snakebite and its envenomation is still a vital cause of mortality especially among rural dwellers in underdeveloped countries, this phenomenon is categorized under the first class of neglected public health problem by WHO.Black-necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis), is among the important species associated with snakebite cases in Northern-Western part of Nigeria.This research work was aimed at evaluating the intraperitoneal lethal doses (50 and 100%) of Naja nigricollis venom and its neutralization potentials by some medicinal plants used in Kebbi State, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: The snake species was captured with the help of snake charmers and was duly authenticated by a zoologist.The venoms were milked and their lethal doses were determined using Probit analysis, all the plants used in this study were extracted with methanol.while the Antivenom effect of the medicinal plants was screened against venom-induced lethal effects in albino rats using standard methods.Results: The lethal doses, 50% (LD 50 ) and 100% (LD 100 ) of Naja nigricollis venom were determined to be 0.380 and 4.270 mg/kg b.wt., respectively.All the selected medicinal plant extracts presented antivenom activities at different degrees of efficacy against the venom of the Naja nigricollis with no significant difference (p>0.05)compared to the normal and positive controls.Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev root extract revealed a significant (p<0.05)decrease in the mean survival time of the animals compared to normal and positive controls.Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that these medicinal plants have potent antivenom potentials and thus can serve as alternatives for the treatment of snakebite envenoming involving Naja nigricollis.