title: Antibothropic action of Casearia sylvestris Sw. (Flacourtiaceae) extracts.
abstract: Casearia sylvestris Sw., popularly known in Brazil as 'guaçatonga', has been used as antitumor, antiseptic, antiulcer, local anaesthetic and healer in folk medicine. Snakebite envenomation by Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) constitutes a relevant public health hazard capable of inducing serious local damage in victims. This study examined the pharmacological action of apolar and polar C. sylvestris leaf extracts in reverting the neuromuscular blockade and myonecrosis, which is induced by Bjssu venom and its major toxin bothropstoxin-I on the mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. The polar methanol extract (ME) was by far the most efficacious. ME not only prevented myonecrosis and abolished the blockade, but also increased ACh release. Such facilitation in neuromuscular transmission was observed with ME alone, but was accentuated in preparations incubated with ME plus venom or toxin. This established synergy opens an interesting point of investigation because the venom or toxin in contact with ME changes from a blocking to a facilitating effect. It is suggested that rutin, known to have potent antioxidant properties, and one of the components present in the ME, could have a role in the observed effects. Since commercial rutin did not reproduce the ME effects, it is likely that a rutin-containing phytocomplex is neutralizing the bothropic envenoming effects.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Sorocaba (UNISO), Rodovia Raposo Tavares km 92.5, CEP18023-000 Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cintra-Francischinelli
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andréo-Filho
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerenutti
authors.forename: A C O
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cintra
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Giglio
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cruz-Höfling
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodrigues-Simioni
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oshima-Franco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D037821:Casearia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D000432:Methanol