Use of Pavo cristatus feather extract for the better management of snakebites: Neutralization of inflammatory reactions

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 99; no. 2; pp. 229 - 237
• Main Authors: Murari, Satish K., Frey, Felix J., Frey, Brigitte M., Gowda, There V., Vishwanath, Bannikuppe S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 03.06.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-inflammatory activity; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; antivenoms; Ayurvedic medicine; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; bites and stings; Daboia; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Edema - chemically induced; Edema - prevention & control; Elapidae; enzyme inhibition; extracts; Feathers; General pharmacology; Humans; Hyaluronidases; hyaluronoglucosaminidase; Medical sciences; Metal ions; Mice; Naja naja; Pavo cristatus; peafowl; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phospholipase A 2; phospholipase A2; Phytotherapy; Proteases; proteinases; Snake Bites - therapy; Snake venom; Snake Venoms; snakes; Synovial fluid; tissue repair; Trimeresurus; venoms; Vipera; Vipera russelii; Pavo cristatus; Synovial fluid; Snake venom; Phospholipase A 2; Proteases; Anti-inflammatory activity; Hyaluronidases; Metal ions; Metal ion; Esterases; Extract; Medicinal plant; Hyaluronidase; Phospholipase A2; Enzyme; Pharmacognosy; Antiinflammatory agent; Phospholipase A; Carboxylic ester hydrolases; Ophidia; Peptidases; Vertebrata; Venom; Plant origin; Hydrolases; Reptilia; Neutralization
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.02.027

In Indian traditional medicine, peacock feather in the form of ash (Bhasma) or water extract are used against snakebite and to treat various problems associated with lungs. This study was aimed to evaluate the water extract of peacock feather (PCF) against the local tissue damage caused due to snakebite. PCF water extract showed inhibition towards phospholipase A 2 enzyme activity from snake venom ( Naja naja and Vipera russelii), inflammatory fluids (synovial, pleural, ascites) and normal serum in a dose-dependent manner. Hyaluronidase and proteases are other major enzymes in snake venoms responsible for local tissue damage. PCF water extract inhibited hyaluronidase and proteolytic enzyme activities from Vipera russelii, Naja naja and Trimeresurus malabaricus venom. The active principle is a hydrophilic molecule easily extractable in water or polar solvents. PCF water extract gave positive results for the presence of protein and secondary metabolites like carotenoids and steroids. Analysis of metal ions revealed that iron is the major ion (>20-fold). Other metal ions detected in smaller amount are copper, chromium, zinc and nickel. The least amount of ion detected is gold. Co-injection of PCF water extract with snake venom and inflammatory PLA 2 enzymes neutralize the edema inducing activity of all the PLA 2 enzymes studied. Since it inhibits hyaluronidase and proteases enzyme activity from snake venom PCF water extract is a powerful neutralizing agent, which has therapeutic application against venom toxicity.