title: Antivenom and biological effects of ar-turmerone isolated from Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae)
abstract: A potent antivenom against snakebite was isolated from Curcuma longa, a plant commonly used in traditional Brazilian medicine. The fraction consisting of ar-turmerone neutralized both the hemorrhagic activity present in Bothrops jararaca venom, and the lethal effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in mice. Immunological studies demonstrated that this fraction also inhibited the proliferation and the natural killer activity of human lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquimica, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Andreoni
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Vital
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Habermehl
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: de Moraes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007659:Ketones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity; D014050:Toluene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D007659:Ketones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D012910:Snake Venoms; C078098:ar-turmerone; D014050:Toluene