ABSTRACT
In the Atlantic forest of the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, local population often uses the fruit juice and the aqueous extract of leaves of soursop (Annona muricata L.) to treat Lachesis muta rhombeata envenomation. Envenomation is a relevant health issue in these areas, especially due to its severity and because the production and distribution of antivenom is limited in these regions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relevance of the use of soursop leaf extract and its juice against envenomation by Lachesis muta rhombeata. Methods We evaluated the biochemical, hematological and hemostatic parameters, the blood pressure, the inflammation process and the lethality induced by Lachesis muta rhombeata snake venom. We also assessed the action of the aqueous extract of leaves (AmL) and juice (AmJ) from A. muricata on the animal organism injected with L. m. rhombeata venom (LmrV) in the laboratory environment. Results LmrV induced a decrease of total protein, albumin and glucose; and increase of creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and urea concentrations. It provoked hemoconcentration followed by reduction of hematocrit, an increase in prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time and a decrease of the blood pressure. LmrV induced the release of interleukin-6, an increase in neutrophils and changes in the serum protein profile, characteristic of the acute inflammatory process. LD50 values were similar for the groups injected with LmrV and treated or untreated with AmJ and AmL. Both treatments play a role on the maintenance of blood glucose, urea and coagulation parameters and exert a protective action against the myotoxicity. However, they seem to worsen the hypotension caused by LmrV. Conclusion The treatments with AmJ and AmL present some beneficial actions, but they might intensify some effects of the venom. Therefore, additional studies on A. muricata are necessary to enable its use as natural antivenom for bushmaster snakebite.
Subject(s)
Annona/adverse effects , Annona/poisoning , Antivenins/analysis , Antivenins/chemistry , Lachesis muta/administration & dosage , Lachesis muta/analysisABSTRACT
Several plant extracts rich in pharmacologically active compounds have shown to antagonize venom of several species. Mangifera indica has been used against snakebite by the traditional healers, However, there is paucity of scientific data in support. In this study, we evaluated the antivenom potential of aqueous extract of stem bark of M. indica against D. russellii venom-induced pharmacological effects such as life myotoxicity, edema, LD50 etc. The extract inhibited the phospholipase, protease, hyaluronidase, 5`nucleotidase, ATPase and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities with varying IC50 values. It significantly inhibited both metalloproteases and serine proteases activities. Further, the extract significantly reduced the myotoxicity of the venom, as evident by the reduction of serum creatin kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities. Though the extract completely inhibited in vitro PLA2 activity, it was unable to completely inhibit in situ hemolytic and in vivo edema-inducing activities, usually brought about by PLA2s. In lethality studies, co-injection of the venom preincubated with the extract showed higher protection than the independent injection of venom, followed by the extract in the mice. However, in both the cases the extract -a cocktail of inhibitors significantly increased the survival time, when compared to that of mice injected (i.p) with the venom alone. These results encourage further studies on the potential use of cocktail of inhibitors in improving the treatment of snake envenomation. Further, this study substantiates the use of M. indica as an antidote against snakebite by the traditional healers.
Subject(s)
Animals , Antivenins/chemistry , Antivenins/isolation & purification , Antivenins/pharmacology , Creatine Kinase/blood , Creatine Kinase/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Edema/chemically induced , Edema/drug therapy , Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Hemorrhage/drug therapy , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/drug effects , Lethal Dose 50 , Mangifera , Mice , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/isolation & purification , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Daboia , Viper Venoms/antagonists & inhibitors , Viper Venoms/toxicityABSTRACT
Los antivenenos antiofídicos (sueros e inmunoglobulinas) son elementos de probada eficacia en el tratamiento de envenenamientos provocados por las mordeduras de serpientes ponzoñosas. En el presente trabajo se describe la elaboración y el ensayo de una inmunoglobulina capaz de neutralizar la toxicidad del veneno de Bothrops neuwiedii (yara). El suero inmune fue obtenido de un equino, el que había sido inoculado previamente con dosis crecientes de veneno detoxificado y luego con dosis crecientes de veneno activo de ejemplares de la citada especie. El referido suero fue purificado y liofilizado; la purificación tiene como objeto aislar la inmunoglobulina responsable de la actividad neutralizante, mientras que la liofilización asegura la conservación de dicha actividad por un período de hasta cinco años a temperatura ambiente. Esta característica hace que el antiveneno pueda estar disponible en zonas rurales apartadas o carentes de las condiciones de refrigeración requeridas por los sueros líquidos. Los resultados obtenidos reafirman la viabilidad técnica de la producción local de sueros antiofídicos y las ventajas socioeconómicas que esa producción implica, al hacer que el país no dependa del exterior para su aprovisionamiento de antivenenos