Antagonistic Effects of Suramin Against the Venom of the Iranian Snake Echis carinatus in Mice

Echis carinatus (Saw-scale viper) is one of the most venomous snakes in Asia and some parts of the Africa with deadly hemotoxic venom. It has been reported that suramin, an anti-trypansomiasis drug, can inhibits the toxic effects of some snake venoms. This study was conducted to evaluate the antagonistic effects of suramin against the venom of the Iranian snake Echis carinatus.Adult albino mice weighing 35±5g were divided into nine groups (A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, D and E) of 6-10 mice. Groups A1 and A2 (protocol A), which received the venom at 7 and 13 mg/kg, succumbed after 169±32 min and 53±16 min, respectively. Groups B1, B2 and B3 (protocol B) were treated with different doses of suramin 15 min after injection of venom. The results show that suramin significantly delayed time to death in groups B1, B2 and B3 compared with groups A1 and A2