Antiophidian properties of the aqueous extract of Mikania glomerata.
Aqueous extracts, prepared from dried or fresh roots, stems or leaves of Mikania glomerata, a plant found in Mata Atlântica in Southeastern Brazil, were able to efficiently neutralize different toxic, pharmacological, and enzymatic effects induced by venoms from Bothrops and Crotalus snakes. Phospholipase A(2) activity and the edema induced by Crotalus durissus terrificus venom were inhibited around 100 and approximately 40%, respectively, although this inhibition was only partial for Bothrops venoms. The hemorrhagic activity of Bothrops venoms (Bothrops altenatus, Bothrops moojeni, Bothrops neuwiedi, and Bothrops jararacussu) was significantly inhibited by this vegetal species, while the clotting activity of Crotalus durissus terrificus, Bothrops jararacussu, and Bothrops neuwiedi venoms was totally inhibited. Although, the mechanism of action of Mikania glomerata extract is still unknown, the finding that no visible change was detected in the electrophoretic pattern of snake venom after incubation with the extract excludes proteolytic degradation as a potential mechanism. Since the extract of Mikania glomerata significantly inhibited the studied snake venoms, it may be used as an alternative treatment to serumtherapy and, in addition, as a rich source of potential inhibitors of PLA(2)s, metalloproteases and serineproteases, enzymes involved in several physiopathological human and animal diseases.
Maiorano
Victor A
VA
Unidade de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP), SP, Brazil.
Marcussi
Silvana
S
Daher
Maristela A F
MA
Oliveira
Clayton Z
CZ
Couto
Lucélio B
LB
Gomes
Odair A
OA
França
Suzelei C
SC
Soares
Andreimar M
AM
Pereira
Paulo S
PS
D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D035742:Mikania; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D012910:Snake Venoms; D010741:Phospholipases A