KALMEGHA (ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA) FOUND EFFECTIVE IN SCORPION BITE
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Scorpion sting is one of the common life threatening acute medical emergencies and also
can be considered as ignored public health problem in India. Red scorpion venom causes
substantial release of neurotransmitters, which result in various clinical features resulting from
envenomation.
Scorpion venom is a potent sodium channel activator. Neurotoxins of scorpion venom are highly
lethal than those of snake venom.
It causes, delay in closing of neuronal sodium channels, which results in “autonomic storm”
leading to sudden pouring of endogenous catecholamine into circulation leading to transient
sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulus.
A study was done to evaluate the anti-scorpion venom (anti scorpion venom) property of
Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) in comparison with anti-red scorpion venom serum and
aimed to determine its combined effect with anti-red scorpion venom serum.
Extract of the famous Ayurvedic herb Kalmegh was obtained and Swiss albino mice were used.
Venom sample and anti-scorpion venom serum (anti scorpion venom) was used.
Using lethal dose of scorpion venom the venom neutralizing ability of plant extract and anti-
scorpion venom individually as well as in combination was studied. Mean survival time,
protection fold and percentage survival of animals over the period of 24 h were the parameters
used.
Ethanol extract of kalmegh (1 g/kg) showed protective effect against scorpion venom. Anti-
scorpion venom was found more effective than plant extract. But, when plant extract and anti-
scorpion venom were used in combination, potency of anti-scorpion venom was found to be
increased both in vivo and in vitro.
THIS STUDY DEMONSTRATES THAT, BOTH PLANT EXTRACT AND ANTI-SCORPION
VENOM HAVE THEIR OWN SCORPION VENOM NEUTRALIZING ABILITY, BUT THEIR
COMBINATION IS MOST EFFECTIVE IN VENOM NEUTRALIZING ABILITY.
Researchers of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram, Wardha & Mahatma
Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry conducted this study.
(Source- Ancient science of life.)
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