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 someparts of the africa with deadly hemotoxic venom. it has been reported that suramin, an antitrypansomiasisdrug, can inhibits the toxic effects of some snake venoms. this study wasconducted to evaluate the antagonistic effects of suramin against the venom of the iraniansnake 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 and13 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 b3compared with groups a1 and a2 (p <0.05). in groups c1 and c2 (protocol c), venom was preincubatedwith suramin for 15 min prior to injection into animals. the survival times of thesetwo groups were significantly increased when compared to group a2. hhowever, only groupc1 in comparison with group a1 had a significantly increased survival time (p <0.05). group d(protocol d) was treated with suramin 15 min before injection of venom. time to death in thisgroup increased in comparison to group a2. group e received suramin alone as a control, andall the animals in this group remained alive. the results of this study showed that a singledose of suramin have a protective role against echis carinatus venom at least in delaying timeto death of envenomed animals. repeated administration or higher doses of suramin may beable to prevent death caused by the venom