title: Neutralizing properties of Musa paradisiaca L. (Musaceae) juice on phospholipase A2, myotoxic, hemorrhagic and lethal activities of crotalidae venoms.
abstract: The use of plants as medicine has been referred to since ancient peoples, perhaps as early as Neanderthal man. Plants are a source of many biologically active products and nowadays they are of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry. The study of how people of different culture use plants in particular ways has led to the discovery of important new medicines. In this work, we verify the possible activity of Musa paradisiaca L. (Musaceae) against the toxicity of snake venoms. Musa paradisiaca, an important source of food in the world, has also been reported to be popularly used as an anti-venom. Interaction of Musa paradisiaca extract (MsE) with snake venom proteins has been examined in this study. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2), myotoxic and hemorrhagic activities, including lethality in mice, induced by crotalidae venoms were significantly inhibited when different amounts of MsE were mixed with these venoms before assays. On the other hand, mice that received MsE and venoms without previous mixture or by separated routes were not protected against venom toxicity. Partial chemical characterization of MsE showed the presence of polyphenols and tannins and they are known to non-specifically inactivate proteins. We suggest that these compounds can be responsible for the in vitro inhibition of the toxic effects of snake venoms. In conclusion, according to our results, using mice as experimental model, MsE does not show protection against the toxic effects of snake venoms in vivo, but if was very effective when the experiments were done in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Venenos e Toxinas Animais, Dep. Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, University Federal de Minas Gerais, UFMG, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: D L F
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Raslan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piló-Veloso
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Homsi-Brandeburgo
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: de Lima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D028521:Musa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000187:drug effects*; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D059808:Polyphenols; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D013634:Tannins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D005419:Flavonoids; D009498:Neurotoxins; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D013634:Tannins; C030961:botrocetin; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2