Determination of thelethal dose (LD50) and the effective dose (ED50) of Iranian horned viper venom

To determine the lethal dose (LD50) of Persian horned viper venom and the effective dose of this venom, primarily concentration of proteins in snake venom was measured by Lowry method and using BSA as standard protein which was reported to be 1500 µg/ml. The lethal dose at six levels was calculated on laboratory BALB/c Australian mice and female sex with weight of 18-20 gr, using SPSS software and Probit statistical analysis program, this amount was reported to be 21.9 µg/mouse. While utilizing the obtained LD50 amount and by the fixed amount of compound solved in 85% Saline and varied amounts of monovalent antivenom, the neutralizing dosage or effective dose could be obtained, in such a way that ratio of venom to antivenom was considered at one level and Australian BALB/c mice were injected with 18-20 gr of the female sex at six levels, and the achieved results were reported to be ED50 equal to 6401.4 µg/ml using SPSS software and Probit statistical analysis program. Considering the obtained LD50 amount, Persian horned viper is regarded as one of the poisonous and dangerous snakes. Considering the high obtained ED50 amount, it is better to use the polyvalent serum to neutralize the poson of this snake.