Abstract
The hydroalcoholic extract of Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet (Flacourtiaceae) was standardized for the first time through quality control procedures including pharmacognostic methods, fingerprint chromatograms, defined amounts of marker substances and physicochemical characteristics. The pharmacological activity of C. gossypiosperma (Cg) hydroalcoholic extract was assayed by a traditional in vitro test, which involved irreversible neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) venom (60 µg/mL) in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. Bjssu venom blocked muscle activity for 26 (± 2.0) minutes (n = 6). Cg extract (0.1 mg/mL) induced changes on the baseline muscle activity without impairing the muscle function and inhibited 87.6% (± 1.8) (n = 6) of the Bjssu venom-induced blockade. Both flavonoids (0.624 g%) and polyphenols (4.63 g%) from the extract were spectrophotometrically quantified. Therefore, the present study confirms the antibothropic activity of Cg extract, supporting the ethnomedical use of Casearia sp. in the treatment of snakebite victims.
Highlights
The genus Casearia is one of the 86 members of the family Flacourtiaceae
Crude venom was obtained from adult Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) snakes (Serpentarium of the Nature Study Center, UNIVAP) and certified by Prof
phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle (PND) was obtained from mice anesthetized with halothane and sacrificed by exsanguinations [35]
Summary
The genus Casearia is one of the 86 members of the family Flacourtiaceae. It includes around 180 species that occur throughout the tropics and are widespread in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Malaysia, Australia and islands of the Pacific Ocean [1]. The most studied among them is Casearia sylvestris Sw. that has shown several biological activities, including antitumor, antiulcer, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antifungal, anticancer, anti-snake and bee venom PLA2, genotoxic, trypanocidal, enzyme inhibitory, antihyperlipidemic and antibothropic properties [17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27]. The latter have been used as antivenom in folk medicine by isolated Brazilian communities [22]. Recognizing the potential of a medicinal plant could contribute to preserve it
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
