title: Inhibitory effects of ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and vitamin B-complex on the biological activities induced by Bothrops venom.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Natural compounds have been widely studied with the aim of complementing antiophidic serum therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study evaluated the inhibitory potential of ascorbic acid and a vitamin complex, composed of ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and all the B-complex vitamins, on the biological activities induced by snake venoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of vitamins was evaluated on the phospholipase, proteolytic, coagulant, and fibrinogenolytic activities induced by Bothrops moojeni (Viperidae), B. jararacussu, and B. alternatus snake venoms, and the hemagglutinating activity induced by B. jararacussu venom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vitamin complex (1:5 and 1:10 ratios) totally inhibited the fibrinogenolytic activity and partially the phospholipase activity and proteolytic activity on azocasein induced by the evaluated venoms. Significant inhibition was observed in the coagulation of human plasma induced by venoms from B. alternatus (1:2.5 and 1:5, to vitamin complex and ascorbic acid) and B. moojeni (1:2.5 and 1:5, to vitamin complex and ascorbic acid). Ascorbic acid inhibited 100% of the proteolytic activities of B. moojeni and B. alternatus on azocasein, at 1:10 ratio, the effects of all the venoms on fibrinogen, the hemagglutinating activity of B. jararacussu venom, and also extended the plasma coagulation time induced by all venoms analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vitamins analyzed showed relevant in vitro inhibitory potential over the activities induced by Bothrops venoms, suggesting their interaction with toxins belonging to the phospholipase A2, protease, and lectin classes. The results can aid further research in clarifying the possible mechanisms of interaction between vitamins and snake enzymes.
authors.affiliation: a Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry , Universidade Federal De Lavras (UFLA) , Campus UFLA , Lavras , Minas Gerais , Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique de Moura
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: a Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry , Universidade Federal De Lavras (UFLA) , Campus UFLA , Lavras , Minas Gerais , Brazil.
authors.forename: Anderson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Assaid Simão
authors.affiliation: a Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry , Universidade Federal De Lavras (UFLA) , Campus UFLA , Lavras , Minas Gerais , Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcussi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017837:Bothrops; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059748:Proteolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014757:Viper Venoms; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Antiophidian activity; Bothrops alternatus; Bothrops jararacussu; Bothrops moojeni; natural compounds; snake venom