Journal of Environmental Biology

Acute toxicity effect of the venom of the marine snail, Conus zeylanicus

D. Annadurai*, R. Kasinathan and P.S. Lyla

*d_annadurai@yahoo.co.in

CAS in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai- 608 502, India

(Received: December 02, 2005 ; Revised received: May 07, 2006 ; Accepted: June 26, 2006)

Abstract: Acute toxicity of the venom of Conus zeylanicus was studied to evaluate its risk and toxic factors in view of human safety. The lethality of the crude venom (LD₅₀ - 60 mg/kg via i.p.) in mice was associated with increased heart rate and strong muscular hind limb paralysis, skeletal muscle paralysis, dyspnea, loss of spontaneous activity followed by respiratory failure. The effect on vital tissues revealed liver tissues were disrupted with hemorrhagic necrosis and the lung showed the pathogenic changes of diffused inflammation of the parenchyma and obliteration of the alveolar space. In brain, edema was observed throughout the parenchyma and the kidney shows the tubules with cloudy swelling of the lining cells and the parenchyma inflammation and few inflammatory cells infiltration.

Key words:    Conus zeylanicus, Conotoxins, Marine toxin, Conus envenomation

Copyright © 2007 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).