Antiophidian properties of a dolastane diterpene isolated from the marine brown alga Canistrocarpus cervicornis

Abstract

Snake venoms consist of a complex mixture, responsible for a wide range of biological effects. Envenomation by Lachesis muta snake venom results in hemostatic disturbances, hemorrhage, pain, necrosis, hemolysis and myotoxicity. A large number of researchers have attempted to identify molecule(s) from natural sources with antiophidian properties to use them as an alternative treatment for snake bite. So, the aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of a diterpene isolated from the marine brown alga Canistrocarpus cervicornis against L. muta biological activities. The diterpene inhibited hemolysis as well as fibrinogen or plasma clotting induced by L. muta venom. Hemorrhage induced by L. muta venom was also prevented by diterpene. So, we report for the first time antiophidian properties of a dolastane diterpene from the marine alga C. cervicornis. Thus, this diterpene may be a promising source of natural inhibitors of enzymes involved in important biological activities of L. muta crude venom, and may be able to improve treatment of envenomation by this snake as well as others.