Title : Snake shed skin extracts- A tresurehouse for therapeutically important bioactive compounds
Abstract:
Snakes and its body parts have been used in folk and traditional medicine of various cultures since ancient time. Evidences in Chinese and Levantine medicinal system suggested the usage of snake shed skin in treatment of several diseases. In Indian traditional medicinal system, ash of shed snake skin is used for inducing labour in pregnant women which lacks scientific validation. Though used extensively by traditional healers there is no scientific evidence about shed snake skin as a source of bioactive component. This present study was undertaken to explore the bioactivity of shedded snake (Naja) skin and the characterization of its bioactive constituents. The shedded snake (Naja) skin collected and extract was prepared. The extract caused temporary cessation of the estrous cycle in albino rats for 10 days and produced histopathological alteration in the uterus and ovary. In the pregnant rat, it altered progesterone, estradiol and C-reactive protein and eventually caused fetal resorption. In the pups, it inhibited the normal process of development. The snake skin extract also markedly changed the gross histological architecture of the seminiferous tubules including disorganization of germinal epithelial cells, accumulation of exfoliated cells in the lumen, tailless sperm in the epididymis, disorganized basal cells in vas deferens as well as marked alteration of sperm morphology. This work depicts that it is not simply a biological waste, but it might be a treasure house of many bioactive compounds.
