EFFECT OF ORAL SUPPLEMENTATION OF VITAMIN-E ON THE HEMOLYSIS AND ERYTHROCYTE PHOSPHOLIPID-SPLITTING ACTION OF COBRA AND VIPER VENOMS

In the present investigation, it was found that oral supplementation o f graded amounts of vitamin E to volunteers increased the alpha-tocoph erol content of the erythrocytes and decreased the susceptibility of t he latter to the hemolytic action of cobra and viper venoms. Further, exogenous addition of graded amounts of alpha-tocopherol to the red ce lls, prior to the addition of either venoms, minimizes the venom-induc ed lysis and erythrocyte phospholipid splitting. It may thus be inferr ed that vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant, plays an important role in reducing the hemolytic action of cobra and viper venoms. (C) 1998 E lsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.