Abstract
BackgroundSnakebite is considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. In Brazil, about 70% of the envenomation cases are caused by Bothrops snakes. Its venom may provoke hemorrhage, pain, necrosis, hemolysis, renal or cardiac failure and even death in victims. Since commercial antivenom does not efficiently neutralize the local toxic effects of venoms, natural products have been tested in order to provide alternative or complementary treatment to serum therapy. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the ability of the seaweed Plocamium brasiliense and its active derivatives to neutralize hemorrhagic, edematogenic, hemolytic, coagulant and proteolytic activities of B. jararaca venom.MethodsSpecimens of P. brasiliense were collected in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, dried and submitted to oil extraction using four solvents of increasing polarities, n-hexane (HEX), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (ETA) and hydroalcoholic solution (HYD). The solvents were evaporated, yielding HEX, DCM, ETA and HYD extracts. Further, all extracts were dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide. In addition, two monoterpenes (8-bromo-3,4,7-trichloro-3,7-dimethyl-1E, 5E-octadiene and 1,8-dibromo-3,4,7-trichloro-3,7-dimethyl-1E, 5E-octadiene) and a cholesterol fraction were isolated from the extract of P. brasiliense prepared in hexane. Algal samples were incubated for 30 minutes with B. jararaca venom, and then tested for lethality; hemorrhagic, edematogenic, hemolytic, coagulant and proteolytic effects.ResultsMost of the algal extracts inhibited the toxic effects with different potencies. The DCM extract was the most effective, since it inhibited all types of toxic activity. On the other hand, the HYD extract failed to inhibit any effect. Moreover, the isolated products inhibited proteolysis and protected mice from hemorrhage in 30% of the cases, whereas 8-bromo-3,4,7-trichloro-3,7-dimethyl-1E, 5E-octadiene inhibited 100% and 20% of the hemorrhagic and proteolytic activities, respectively. None of the algal products were toxic to mice.ConclusionSeaweeds may be a promising source of inhibitors against toxic effects caused by B. jararaca envenomation, which may contribute to antivenom treatment.
Highlights
Snakebite is considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization
Antivenom activity has been described in marine algae and sponges, which showed that both organisms can inhibit some toxic effects of Lachesis muta and B. jararaca venoms [27,28]
Control experiments were performed by mixing B. jararaca venom with DMSO (5% v/v) or saline solution
Summary
Snakebite is considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Bothrops venoms, which have been extensively studied, are composed of a complex mixture of proteins, peptides and other organic da Silva et al Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases (2015) 21:2 and inorganic molecules that induce local (pain, edema, necrosis, inflammation, hemorrhage) and systemic (coagulation disturbances, renal and cardiac failure) effects in victims [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13]. B. jararaca is found in southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina Envenomation by this species has a similar profile to that observed in other Bothrops species including shock, tissue necrosis, intravascular coagulation, local and systemic hemorrhage and edema. Antivenom activity has been described in marine algae and sponges, which showed that both organisms can inhibit some toxic effects of Lachesis muta and B. jararaca venoms [27,28]
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