Journal of Toxins

Research Article

Effect of Aqueous Extract of Naja naja Sp. Shedded Skin in Pregnant Female Rats and its Role on the Growth and Development in the Pups

Mukherjee S1, Gomes A2 and Das Gupta SC1*

1Department of Zoology Maulana Azad College, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, India
2Laboratory of Toxinology & Experimental Pharmacodynamics, Deptartment of Physiology, Calcutta University, India
*Address for Correspondence: Das Gupta SC, Department of Zoology Maulana Azad College, 8, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Kolkata 700013, India, Tel: 91-33-2226 0995; Fax-91-33--2226-0995; Mobile: + 91-9830471981; E-mail: subirdgupta@gmail.com
Submission date: 27 May, 2019; Accepted date: 31 July, 2019; Published date: 03 August, 2019
Copyright: © 2019 Mukherjee S, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Snake shed skins are widely used in the folk and traditional medicine of various cultures since ancient time. In ancient Chinese and Levantine medicinal system snake shed skin is used in the treatment of several diseases viz. glaucoma, hernia, psoriasis etc. Indian traditional and folk medicinal system make use of the ash of snake shed skin for inducing labour in pregnant women, which lacks scientific validation. Mukherjee et al., 2013 reported that N naja shedded skin caused temporary cessation of the estrous cycle. However no scientific evidence is present regarding its role on pregnant animals. Thus, the present study was commenced for scientifically validating the role of Naja naja shed skin aqueous extract on the pregnant rats.
In the present study, SSS altered the urinary volume, calcium, magnesium levels, as well as altered the urinary creatinine output. SSS also altered serum 17-β estradiol level, progesterone and C-reactive protein level. In a dose-dependent manner, SSS exposure towards pregnant mother retarded the growth and development in the pups. At the highest dose SSS lead to fetal resorption. The present study for the first reports the prenatal toxicity and teratogenicity of SSS.