Ipomoea asarifolia neutralizes inflammation induced by Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom.
BACKGROUND
Envenoming caused by scorpion sting is a serious public health problem. In Brazil, 13,038 accidents caused by venomous animals have been reported. Of this total, 53% of the cases and 14 deaths were caused by scorpions. Furthermore, Tityus serrulatus (Buthidae) is the most dangerous scorpion due to the high toxicity of its venom. The treatment is the common supportive therapy and the serum therapy, but some people do not have access to both therapies and seek healing through the use of medical plants.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the ability of the crude extract and fractions from the leaves of Ipomoea asarifolia in neutralizing the main biological effects caused by Tityus serrulatus envenoming in mice.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were pretreated (i.v.) with 100 μλ of aqueous extracts and fractions dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol (CH₂Cl₂, EtOAc, and n-BuOH, respectively) of Ipomoea asarifolia, rutin or saline. Then, the animals received 100 μλ (i.p.) of venom of Tityus serrulatus (0.8 mg/kg). After six hours, the peritoneal lavage was performed with PBS and the number cells were determined using a Neubauer chamber. The supernatants were collected for determination of cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-12, and IL-1β.


RESULTS
The aqueous extract, fractions and rutin, at all doses, significantly reduced cell migration, which was endorsed by the reduction of the levels of certain cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study that demonstrated the potential effect of Ipomoea asarifolia against inflammation caused by Tityus serrulatus venom, suggesting that these extracts and/or their bioactive molecules, especially the flavonoid rutin, have potential use in the therapy of this envenomation.
Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Maira Conceição Jerônimo de Souza
MC
Lima
Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Mariana Angélica Oliveira
MA
Bitencourt
Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Allanny Alves
AA
Furtado
Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Biopolímeros Naturais, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Hugo Alexandre
HA
Oliveira Rocha
Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Biopolímeros Naturais, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Ruth Medeiros
RM
Oliveira
Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Arnóbio Antônio
AA
da Silva-Júnior
Laboratório de Sistemas Dispersos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Eryvaldo Sócrates
ES
Tabosa do Egito
Laboratório de Imunoquímica, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Denise Vilarinho
DV
Tambourgi
Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Silvana Maria
SM
Zucolotto
Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil. Electronic address: mpedrosa@ufrnet.br.
Matheus de Freitas
Mde F
Fernandes-Pedrosa
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000931:Antidotes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D027741:Ipomoea; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D012431:Rutin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D012605:Scorpions
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000931:Antidotes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D012431:Rutin
Inflammation; Ipomoea asarifolia; Therapy; Tityus serrulatus