title: Scorpion antivenom effect of micropropagated Aristolochia elegans.
abstract: Aristolochia elegans Mast. (Aristolochiaceae) has been used to treat scorpion envenoming in Mexican traditional medicine. In vitro studies of the pharmacological activity of raw extracts from A. elegans roots have shown activity against scorpion bite. The aim of the present study was to determine for the first time the antagonistic effect of hexane and methanol extracts of the aerial parts and roots from micropropagated A. elegans plants in a model of isolated guinea-pig ileum contracted by scorpion bite. Results showed that the methanol extracts of aerial organs (74%) and roots (65%) of micropropagated plants have a similar antitoxin activity against scorpion poisoning to hexane extracts of wild plants (65%). These results suggest that using methanol extracts from the micropropagated plant material instead of wild plant root extracts from A. elegans is an alternative for treatment against scorpion bite symptoms, and will contribute to the conservation of this medicinal species.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnología, Centro de Desarrollo de Productos Bióticos - Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Yautepec, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Alejandro Mora
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: Elsa Ventura
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: J Enrique
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Ferrer
authors.forename: Crescencio Bazaldúa
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Antonio Jiménez
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.forename: Kalina Bermúdez
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Lidia Osuna
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D030022:Aristolochia; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012605:Scorpions
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012604:Scorpion Venoms