Enhancing Venom Lethality: The Incompatibility of Cannabis sativa Extract in Snakebite Management

Snakebite envenoming is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a neglected public health issue, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Since some victims of snake bites have been reported to use Cannabis sativa to fight snakebite envenoming, the objective of this study was to examine the impact of this herb on the lethal effects of Naja naja oxiana cobra venom in mice.

This study utilized four protocols and 80 mice, divided into ten equal groups. The intraperitoneal (IP) route was used for injection. In protocol I (control), group A received 2 mg/kg of venom . Groups B1, B2, and B3 received C. sativa extract at doses of 80, 120, and 160 mg/kg, respectively. In protocol II, groups C1 and C2 received simultaneous administration of 80 and 120 mg/kg of the extract together with 2 mg/kg of venom. In protocol III, groups D1 and D2 were injected with 2 mg/kg of venom, followed by administration of 80 and 120 mg/kg of the extract after a 20-minute interval. In protocol IV, groups E1 and E2 received the pre-incubated (20 minutes) of venom-extract at the similar doses.

On average, animals succumbed to death 35 minutes after being injected with venom. The extract significantly reduced this time in groups C1, C2, D2, E1 (P<0.01), and E2 (P<0.001) compared with group A.

The C. sativa was not only unable to neutralize the lethal effect of N. n. oxiana venom, but it also potentiates its effect, significantly decreasing the time of the animal's death.