Fifty male albino mice weighing 20–25 g were housed in
groups of five in polyethylene cages in a temperature controlled
room under 12/12 h light/dark cycle and had free access to food
pellets and tap water ad libitum. The minimal number of animals
needed to obtain statistical significance was used and all efforts
were made to minimize animal suffering. On the day of experiment,
mice were divided into two groups, one group received 5
intra-peritoneal injections of 15 mg/kg of the purified
S. platensis exudates in saline at 24 h intervals (total dose:
75 mg/kg) while the control set was given equal dose of physiological
saline solution (0.85% NaCl).