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Comparative Assessment of Nigerian and Yemeni Garlic as Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) Inhibitors in Snakebite Envenomation Therapy
1, 2 , 2, 3 , 4 , 2 , 2 , 5 , 2 , 6 , 6 , * 1, 6, 7, 8
1  Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Campus, PMB 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria.
2  Atta-ur-Rahman Institute for Natural Products Discovery (AuRIns), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia, Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Selangor, Malaysia
3  Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, /I//bb /University, Postal Code, 70270, /Ibb/, Yemen
4  Department of Pure and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, Main Campus, PMB 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria.
5  Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, /Ibb /University, Postal Code, 70270, /Ibb/, Yemen
6  Departments of Chemistry and Biology, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, Maryland 21251, United States of America.
7  Center for Advanced Medical Research and Training (CAMRET), Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Campus, PMB 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria.
8  One Health Institute, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Campus, PMB 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Academic Editor: Mary Jane Meegan

Abstract:

Snakebite envenomation remains a significant medical challenge, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory potential of Allium sativum (garlic) from Nigeria and Yemen against Naja nigricollis and Echis ocellatus venoms using both experimental and computational approaches. Fresh garlic samples were collected, authenticated, and extracted using cold methanol maceration to yield Nigerian and Yemeni methanol extracts (NME and YME, respectively). Their antisnake venom activities were assessed in vitro and in silico, with polyvalent antivenin (ASV) serving as the standard control. Comparative qualitative phytochemical screening was performed to identify secondary metabolites in both extracts. The results demonstrated significant (p<0.05), concentration-dependent inhibition of venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity. YME exhibited superior PLA2 inhibitory activity (80.02 to 53.01%) compared to NME (72.51 to 38.20%) across concentrations ranging from 10.0 to 0.625 mg/mL. Furthermore, molecular docking of bioactive compounds identified in YME via HPLC and LC-MS/MS revealed strong binding affinities (−8.5 to −7.2 kcal/mol) to the active site of PLA2, indicating potential inhibitory interactions. The selected compounds also exhibited favorable drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic (ADMET) profiles. In conclusion, the study provides scientific validation for the traditional use of Allium sativum in Nigeria and Yemen as an herbal remedy for snakebite envenomation, highlighting the promising anti-snake venom potential of Yemeni garlic through PLA2 inhibition.

Keywords: polyvalent antivenin, garlic, phospholipase A2, Molecular docking, ADMET, phytochemicals, Naja nigricollis, Echis ocellatus

 
 
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