Neutralisation of local haemorrhage induced by the saw-scaled viper Echis carinatus sochureki venom using ethanolic extract of Hibiscus aethiopicus L.

The objective of the study is to investigate the anti-snake venom activities of a local plant, Hibiscus aethiopicus L. The H. aethiopicus was dried and extracted with ethanol. Different assays were performed according to standard techniques, to evaluate the plant's acute toxicity and its antivenom activities. The results of evaluating the systemic acute toxicity of the H. aethiopicus extract using "oral and intra-peritoneal" route were normal even at the highest dose (24g/kg) tested. All guinea pigs (n=3) when treated with venoms E. c. sochureki (75g) alone induced acute skin haemorrhage. In contrast, all guinea pigs (n=18) treated with both venom and the plant extract at a concentration between 500 and 1000mg/kg showed no signs of haemorrhage. Moreover, all guinea pigs (n=18) treated with venom and the plant extract below 400mg/kg showed acute skin haemorrhage. All guinea pigs treated with venom E. c. sochureki (75g) alone induced acute skin haemorrhage after both 24 and 32 hours. In contrast, all guinea pigs treated with both venom and the plant extract (administered independently) at concentrations between 500 and 1000mg/kg showed no signs of haemorrhage after 32 hours. However, after 24 hours all tested guinea pigs showed less inhibition (<60%) compared to that obtained after 32 hours. The outcome of this study reflects that the extract of H. aethiopicus plant may contain an endogenous inhibitor of venom induced local haemorrhage.