Protective effect of Prosopis cineraria, Salvadora oleoides and Salvadora persica extracts against Androctonus finitimus envenomation

<i>Androctonus finitimus</i> (Pocock, 1897; Scorpiones: Buthidae) is a highly venomous scorpion species that poses a substantial threat to humans and livestock, often resulting in severe envenomation incidents and even fatalities. Medicinal plants, rich in secondary metabolites, represent a valuable source of compounds with diverse pharmacological and therapeutic potential. Current study investigated the venom neutralization potential of <i>Prosopis cineraria</i>, <i>Salvadora oleoides</i> and <i>Salvadora persica</i> using Swiss albino mice as model. The lethal dose (LD₉₉) of <i>A. finitimus</i> venom for mice was 1.5 μg/g. Methanolic extract of <i>P. cineraria</i> showed 100 % venom neutralization, followed by <i>S. persica</i> (72 %) and <i>S. oleoides</i> (50 %). The values of liver function markers including alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and bilirubin; muscle damage markers including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) and renal function markers including creatinine and urea were significantly higher in negative control group which did not receive any treatment after exposing with the venom as compared to positive control and plant extract's treated groups. The major active compounds found in <i>P. cineraria, S. persica</i> and <i>S. oleoides</i> were palmitic acid, neophytadiene and octadecamethyl-cyclononasiloxane respectively. The current study provides some empirical basis for the traditional use of <i>P. cineraria</i> in treating scorpion envenomation and may have potential for development into anti-venom medicines.