Evaluation of Approximate LD50 and pharmacological effects of Echis carinatus (Saw-scaled viper) venom from Central Punjab, Pakistan

The assessment of toxic and pharmacological properties of snake venoms and their components is based predominantly on the animal experiments. Several modifications using fewer animals than the classical LD50 assay have been published. Using these methods an Approximate LD50 can be determined, the precision of and reproducibility of which is sufficient for most purposes of lethality testing. The pharmacological studies of the saw-scaled viper help us to locate and work on the components in the venom responsible for bringing these changes in the victims. So far in Pakistan the toxicity of snake venoms has been evaluated only through the classical LD50. The present work comprises the estimation of the toxicity of crude venom of Echis carinatus (saw-scaled viper) by evaluation of its Approximate LD50 in mice. This study has been taken as a model for the venom bioassays of snakes from other proximate species. The subsequent portion comprises the characterization of pharmacological effects of the crude venom of the said snake in mice.