Avaliação da atividade antiofídica do extrato de Serjania erecta Radlk in natura e in vitro: isolamento e caracterização estrutural de compostos bioativos

Abstract

Fernandes, R.S. Evaluation of antiophidian activity of Serjania erecta extract Radlk in natura and in vitro: isolation and structural characterization of bioactive compounds. 2011. 84f. Thesis (Doctoral) Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirao Preto – Universidade de Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, 2010. Snake venoms are a complex mixture of enzymes and toxic proteins. In Brazil, Bothrops snakes are responsible for most accidents with venomous animals, which cause local tissue damage (hemorrhage, edema and necrosis) and systemic effects (blood clotting disorders). Snakebites are often treated with parenteral administration of antivenom, aimed at the neutralization of toxins. However, despite the success of serum therapy, it is important to search for inhibitors that can neutralize the local tissue damage. Plant extracts constitute a rich source of pharmacologically active compounds, and many extracts present antiophidian activity. In this study, the methanolic extract of leaves of Serjania erecta, a medicinal plant with antiinflammatory properties, was subjected to chromatographic fractionation, resulting in four main fractions that were evaluated by phytochemical tests, revealing the presence of saponins, terpenes, flavonoids (SF3) and tannins (SF4). The isolation and characterization of two flavone glycosides of the flavonoid-rich fraction (isovitexin and vitexin) were also achieved. Moreover, the in vitro cultures of Serjania erecta also established to allow, in the near future, the continuous production of secondary metabolites, as well as the conservation of this plant species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of aerial parts of S. erecta and its fractions, isolated compounds and methanolic extract of callus against the enzymatic and pharmacological effects induced by snake venoms and isolated toxins. The phospholipase A2 activity induced by snake venoms of B. jararacussu and C. d. terrificus, and isolated toxins (BthTX-II and crotoxin) was inhibited by the samples tested, and the fractions SF3 and SF4 completely inhibited the toxin BthTX-II, whereas crotoxin was inhibited successfully by the action of fraction SF4. The methanolic extract of S. erecta and fraction SF3 were able to prevent the fibrinogenolytic action of B. moojeni venom. The methanolic extracts of callus and aerial parts of S. erecta, fractions SF3 and SF4, and flavones promoted partial protection of fibrinogen chains when incubated together with the B. jararacussu venom. Vitexin, SF3 and SF4 were potent inhibitors of the coagulant activity induced by B. jararacussu venom. BthTX-I edema-inducing activity was inhibited by vitexin, SF3 and SF4. The hemorrhagic activity of B. jararacussu and B. neuwiedi venoms were inhibited by the action of methanolic extract of aerial parts of S. erecta and its fractions. This extract is a promising source of natural inhibitors, as flavonoids and tannins, which act forming complexes with metal ions and proteins, inhibiting the action of serine proteases, metalloproteases and phospholipases A2. The molecular modeling studies done between myotoxin BthTX-I and the compounds showed that the toxin-inhibitor complex is stabilized by hydrogen bonds with the side chains of amino acid residues in the region of the catalytic site of toxin. Moreover, the circular dichroism spectra revealed no significant changes in the secondary structures of