Extracts of Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.) MAAS Protect against Lethality and Systemic Hemorrhage Induced by Bothrops asper Venom: Insights from a Model with Extract Administration before Venom Injection.
Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.) MAAS, obtained by micropropagation (in vitro) and wild forms have previously been shown to inhibit some toxic activities of Bothrops asper snake venom if preincubated before injection. In this study, assays were performed in a murine model in which extracts were administered for three days before venom injection. R. alpinia extracts inhibited lethal activity of B. asper venom injected by intraperitoneal route. Median Effective Dose (ED50) values were 36.6 ± 3.2 mg/kg and 31.7 ± 5.4 mg/kg (p > 0.05) for R. alpinia wild and in vitro extracts, respectively. At a dose of 75 mg/kg, both extracts totally inhibited the lethal activity of the venom. Moreover, this dose prolonged survival time of mice receiving a lethal dose of venom by the intravenous route. At 75 mg/kg, both extracts of R. alpinia reduced the extent of venom-induced pulmonary hemorrhage by 48.0% (in vitro extract) and 34.7% (wild extract), in agreement with histological observations of lung tissue. R. alpinia extracts also inhibited hemorrhage in heart and kidneys, as evidenced by a decrease in mg of hemoglobin/g of organ. These results suggest the possibility of using R. alpinia as a prophylactic agent in snakebite, a hypothesis that needs to be further explored.
Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty, Pharmacy Department, University of Antioquia UdeA, Street 70 N° 52-21, Medellín 050010, Colombia. arleycamilo@gmail.com.|Ophidism/Scorpionism Program, Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty, University of Antioquia UdeA, Street 70 N° 52-21, Medellín 050010, Colombia. arleycamilo@gmail.com.
Arley Camilo
AC
Patiño
School of Medicine, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Street 50 A N° 41-20, Medellín 050010, Colombia. juan.quintanac@ucc.edu.co.
Juan Carlos
JC
Quintana
Clodomiro Picado Institute, Microbiology Faculty, University of Costa Rica, Dulce Nombre, Vázquez de Coronado, San José 11103, Costa Rica. jose.gutierrez@ucr.ac.cr.
José María
JM
Gutiérrez
Clodomiro Picado Institute, Microbiology Faculty, University of Costa Rica, Dulce Nombre, Vázquez de Coronado, San José 11103, Costa Rica. alexandra.rucavado@ucr.ac.cr.
Alexandra
A
Rucavado
Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty, Pharmacy Department, University of Antioquia UdeA, Street 70 N° 52-21, Medellín 050010, Colombia. doraben2000@gmail.com.|Ophidism/Scorpionism Program, Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty, University of Antioquia UdeA, Street 70 N° 52-21, Medellín 050010, Colombia. doraben2000@gmail.com.
Dora María
DM
Benjumea
Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty, Pharmacy Department, University of Antioquia UdeA, Street 70 N° 52-21, Medellín 050010, Colombia. andrespj20@gmail.com.|Ophidism/Scorpionism Program, Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty, University of Antioquia UdeA, Street 70 N° 52-21, Medellín 050010, Colombia. andrespj20@gmail.com.
Jaime Andrés
JA
Pereañez
D000818:Animals; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017837:Bothrops; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000188:drug therapy; D030521:Zingiberaceae
D000931:Antidotes; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D010936:Plant Extracts