title: Protective effect of taurine on cardiotoxicity of the bufadienolides derived from toad (Bufo bufo gargarizans Canto) venom in guinea-pigs in vivo and in vitro.
abstract: In China, toad venom is an anti-inflammatory agent used in small doses for the treatment of various types of inflammation. Bufadienolides are cardioactive steroids responsible for the anti-inflammatory actions of toad venom. We studied the protective effect of taurine on the cardiotoxicity of bufadienolides in guinea-pigs. Bufadienolides (8 mg/kg) caused arrhythmias, cardiac dysfunction and death in guinea-pigs. Pretreatment with taurine (150, 300 mg/kg) significantly prevented bufadienolide-induced cardiotoxicity and reduced the mortality in vivo. Taurine markedly increased the cumulative doses of bufadienolides and resibufogenin required for lethal arrhythmia in ex vivo isolated guinea-pig heart. Taurine did not compromise the anti-inflammatory activity of the bufadienolides on concanavalin-A-stimulated proliferation of guinea-pig splenocytes in vitro. These data indicate that taurine can prevent bufadienolide-induced cardiotoxicity and could be a novel antidote in combination with bufadienolide therapy.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key laboratory for TCM formulae research, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Hongyue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jiejun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Anwei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Gaohong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Huiqin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Fenqiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Jinao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D000664:Amphibian Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002018:Bufanolides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D002023:Bufo bufo; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054715:Cardiotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000664:Amphibian Venoms; D002018:Bufanolides; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D054715:Cardiotoxins; D013654:Taurine