Effects of Methanolic Extract of Tamarindus Indica Seed on Some Enzymes of Naja Nigricollis Venom

ABSTRACT

Snakebite envenomation remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in rural areas where access to conventional antivenom for their treatment and management is limited. This study investigates the effects of methanolic extract of Tamarindus indica seed on some enzymes of Naja nigricollis (black-necked spiting cobra) venom. It is aimed to evaluate the extract's in vitro inhibitory effects on some of the key enzymes of Naja nigricollis venom. Phytochemical analysis and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay was done on the extract. Also, enzymes assay and inhibitory studies were done using standard methods. Phytochemical analysis revealed high levels of phenols (921.63±0.59 mg/100g) and flavonoids (66.25±0.66 mg/100g) in the extract. The extract demonstrated antioxidant capacity with ferric reducing antioxidant power (88.62±0.93%) observed at 100µg/mL (IC50 = 24.50µg/mL). Furthermore, the extract demonstrated inhibitory effects on the key enzymes of Naja nigricollis venom at concentration of 100µg/mL across all enzymes studied: protease (73.51±0.45%) (IC50 = 57.76µg/mL), phospholipase A2 (81.53±0.90%) (IC50 = 45.68µg/mL), acetylcholine esterase (70.69±1.60%) (IC50 = 55.77µg/mL), and L-amino acid oxidase (59.13±1.03%) (IC50 = 5.03µg/mL). The findings from this study suggests that methanolic extract of Tamarindus indica seed have the capacity to act as antioxidant and a potential antivenom alternative in the management of envenomation cases by Naja nigricolis.