title: Viper and cobra venom neutralization by beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol isolated from the root extract of Pluchea indica Less. (Asteraceae).
abstract: We reported previously that the methanolic root extract of the Indian medicinal plant Pluchea indica Less. (Asteraceae) could neutralize viper venom-induced action [Alam, M.I., Auddy, B., Gomes, A., 1996. Viper venom neutralization by Indian medicinal plant (Hemidesmus indicus and P. indica) root extracts. Phytother. Res. 10, 58-61]. The present study reports the neutralization of viper and cobra venom by beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol isolated from the root extract of P. indica Less. (Asteraceae). The active fraction (containing the major compound beta-sitosterol and the minor compound stigmasterol) was isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography and the structure was determined using spectroscopic analysis (EIMS, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR). Anti-snake venom activity was studied in experimental animals. The active fraction was found to significantly neutralize viper venom-induced lethal, hemorrhagic, defibrinogenation, edema and PLA(2) activity. Cobra venom-induced lethality, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, respiratory changes and PLA(2) activity were also antagonized by the active component. It potentiated commercial snake venom antiserum action against venom-induced lethality in male albino mice. The active fraction could antagonize venom-induced changes in lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity. This study suggests that beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol may play an important role, along with antiserum, in neutralizing snake venom-induced actions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxinology and Experimental Pharmacodynamics, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, 92, A.P.C. Road, Kolkata 700 009, India. agomes_cu@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Archita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Ipshita
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chakravarty
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019659:Asteraceae; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013265:Stigmasterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014757:Viper Venoms
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012855:Sitosterols; D014757:Viper Venoms; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D013265:Stigmasterol