PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ACUTE TOXICITY, AND EFFECTS OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF EUPHORBIA COTINIFOLIA ON BLEEDING AND CLOTTING TIMES IN RATS ENVENOMATED WITH LD99 OF NAJA NIGRICOLLIS VENOM

Abstract

Plants have long been used in medicine, offering diverse compounds with pharmacological potential. Herbal antivenoms can neutralize venom through multiple mechanisms, and species of Euphorbia are notable in this regard. Euphorbia cotinifolia, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, was investigated for its phytochemical composition, acute toxicity, and antivenom activity. Methanol extracts of the whole plant revealed alkaloids, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids, while anthraquinones were absent. Acute toxicity studies in albino rats showed an LD50 of 3807.8 mg/kg, indicating relative safety. Antivenom activity was tested against Naja nigricollis (LD99 venom). Bleeding time decreased significantly with increasing extract doses (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg), indicating dose-dependent neutralization potential. At 80 mg/kg, bleeding time was reduced to 267.4±6.45 seconds, while clotting time increased to 387.2±5.56 seconds compared with controls. These findings suggest that E. cotinifolia extracts can counteract venom effects, particularly by reducing bleeding time and modulating clotting. The results highlight its potential as a plant-based treatment for snakebite, particularly N. nigricollis envenomation, and provide preliminary data on safe dosage ranges for in vivo use.