Assessment of toxicity and anti-trypanosomal activities of toad venom in rat models.

Abstract

African trypanosomiasis is considered one of the neglected diseases leading to the death of thousands of people. The case of drug resistance, coupled with adverse side effects of the available drugs, warrants urgent alternative. In this study, acutetoxicity, and prophylactic and suppressive anti-trypanosomal activities were carried out followed by sub-acute toxicity ofthe toad venom in rats. In acute toxicity test a total of nine Wistar rats were distributed into three groups and administered10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg body weight (bw.) of the venom, respectively. Doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg bw. of the venom wereadministered to the rats in their respective groups in the suppressive and prophylactic and sub-acute tests respectively, and5 mg/kg bw. of diminazene aceturate was administered to the rats in their respective groups while 2 mL/kg bw. of normalsaline was administered to the control and untreated groups. The LD50of the venom was calculated to be 31.62 mg/kg bw.No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between the % suppression in the prophylactic and suppressive antitrypanosomalactivities of diminazene aceturate (100 and 99.80%) and the venom at 5 mg/kg bw. (100 and 98.80%) and10 mg/kg bw. (100 and 100%), respectively. Significant increases (p < 0.05) in the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, creatinine,urea and uric acid were observed at dose of 20 mg/kg bw. of the venom. It is shown from this study that toad venom exhibits