Abstract

EFFECT OF SNAIL (ACHATINA MARGINATA) VENOM ON ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Danladi J. G.* and Ohaeri O. C.

ABSTRACT

Right from ancient time snail venom or slime are washed away before the consumption of the meat. However, this slime can serve as medicines for the treatment of various diseases such as kidney disease, tuberculosis, anemia, diabetes, ulcer, hypertension etc. in this study; Anti-diabetic effects of Snail (A. Marginata) Venom was investigated using standard methods. Diabetes was induced intraperitoneally with a single dose of 120 mg/kg body weight of alloxan solution. After diabetes induction, thirty male albino rats were divided into six groups of five rats each. Group 4, 5 and 6 were orally administered 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight of A. marginata venom weekly for 28 days. Group 1 was the normal control; group 2 was negative control while group 3 was treated with glibenclamide 5 mg/kg body weight weekly for 28 days. The result showed that oral administration of Snail (A. Marginata) Venom for 28 days resulted in significant (P<0.05) decrease in blood glucose level which was accompany by increase in body weight. This dose also significantly (p<0.05) decrease the total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and increase HDL level in diabetic treated rats. In addition, there was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the activities of AST and ALT in snail venom-treated diabetic rat compared to untreated diabetic rat. Also, the snail venom-treated rats showed significant decrease in the activities of urea and creatinine compared to untreated diabetic rat. The level of MDA was also significantly (P<0.05) decrease on administration of Snail (A. Marginata) venom when compared to untreated diabetic rats. While SOD activity was increased in snail venom treated rats relative to the untreated diabetic rats. The results of this study suggest that snail (A. Marginata) venom may possess antidiabetic property. Therefore, could be a novel anti-diabetic agent.

Keywords: Antidiabetic, Venom, Alloxan, Glucose, Cholesterol.