title: Aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae) inhibits enzymatic and biological actions of Bothrops jararaca snake venom.
abstract: Snakebites are a serious public health problem due their high morbi-mortality. The main available specific treatment is the antivenom serum therapy, which has some disadvantages, such as poor neutralization of local effects, risk of immunological reactions, high cost and difficult access in some regions. In this context, the search for alternative therapies is relevant. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antiophidic properties of Jatropha gossypiifolia, a medicinal plant used in folk medicine to treat snakebites. The aqueous leaf extract of the plant was prepared by decoction and phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of sugars, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenes and/or steroids and proteins. The extract was able to inhibit enzymatic and biologic activities induced by Bothrops jararaca snake venom in vitro and in vivo. The blood incoagulability was efficiently inhibited by the extract by oral route. The hemorrhagic and edematogenic local effects were also inhibited, the former by up to 56% and the latter by 100%, in animals treated with extract by oral and intraperitoneal routes, respectively. The inhibition of myotoxic action of B. jararaca reached almost 100%. According to enzymatic tests performed, it is possible to suggest that the antiophidic activity may be due an inhibitory action upon snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) and/or serine proteinases (SVSPs), including fibrinogenolytic enzymes, clotting factors activators and thrombin like enzymes (SVTLEs), as well upon catalytically inactive phospholipases A2 (Lys49 PLA2). Anti-inflammatory activity, at least partially, could also be related to the inhibition of local effects. Additionally, protein precipitating and antioxidant activities may also be important features contributing to the activity presented. In conclusion, the results demonstrate the potential antiophidic activity of J. gossypiifolia extract, including its significant action upon local effects, suggesting that it may be used as a new source of bioactive molecules against bothropic venom.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Tecnologia & Biotecnologia Farmacêutica (TecBioFar), Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (PPgCF), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Félix-Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Tecnologia & Biotecnologia Farmacêutica (TecBioFar), Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (PPgCF), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Tecnologia & Biotecnologia Farmacêutica (TecBioFar), Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (PPgCF), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yamara A S
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Polímeros Naturais (BIOPOL), Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael B G
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Câmara
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Tecnologia & Biotecnologia Farmacêutica (TecBioFar), Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (PPgCF), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arnóbio A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Silva-Junior
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Polímeros Naturais (BIOPOL), Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hugo A O
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hematologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivanise M M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Rebecchi
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zucolotto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Tecnologia & Biotecnologia Farmacêutica (TecBioFar), Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (PPgCF), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Matheus F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fernandes-Pedrosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000931:Antidotes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D017837:Bothrops / Q000378:metabolism; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019665:Euphorbiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000931:Antidotes; D000975:Antioxidants; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D010936:Plant Extracts