VIPER VENOM NEUTRALIZATION BY INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANT (HEMIDESMUS-INDICUS AND PLUCHEA-INDICA) ROOT EXTRACTS

The methanol root extracts of Hemidesmus indicus R.Br. and Pluchea ind ica (Less) were explored for the first time for neutralization of snak e venom (Vipera russellii) activity. The H. indicus and P. indica root extracts significantly neutralized the viper venom-induced lethality and haemorrhagic activity in albino rat and mouse. Venom-induced coagu lant and anticoagulant activity was also antagonized by both the extra cts. No precipitating bands were observed between the plant extract an d polyvalent snake venom antiserum. Maximum neutralization was achieve d by H. indicus root extract. These observations confirmed that certai n Indian medicinal plants possess significant snake venom neutralizing capacity and need further examination for their active constituents.