Samsum ant venom protects against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute spleen toxicity in vivo.

Many active molecules used in the development of new drugs are produced by ants. Present study assessed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Samsum ant venom (SAV) extract in carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced spleen toxicity. Toxicity and oxidative stress were measured in four experimental groups: a negative control group without any treatment, a positive control group (CCl4-treated rats; a single dose of 1 ml/kg CCL4), an experimental group of CCl4-treated rats co-treated daily with SAV (100 μl), and a group to determine safe use with rats treated only with SAV (100 μl) daily for 3 weeks. CCl4-treatment led to an elevation in toxicity and oxidative stress. CCl4 significantly elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as expression of inhibitor of κB (IκB) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) proteins. On the other hand, a decrease in glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) levels were detected in CCl4-treated rats. Co-treatment with SAV was found to reduce these inflammatory and oxidative parameters. SAV elucidated a significant recovery of MDA concentration as well as a significant restoration in GSH levels compared to CCl4-treated rats; however, SAV increased CAT levels compared to normal rats. Hence, SAV was found to restore splenomegaly induced in CCl4-treated rats. Histopathological analysis also favored the biochemical analysis showing improvement in splenic architecture in CCl4 and SAV co-treated rats. The antioxidant properties of SAV may potentially enhance anti-inflammatory actions and improve spleen structure and function in CCl4-challenged rats.