Pharmacological activity of Costus spicatus in experimental Bothrops atrox envenomation.
BACKGROUND
Medicinal plants encompass a rich source of active compounds that can neutralize snake venoms or toxins. Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw. (Costaceae) is used by the Amazonian population to treat inflammation, pain and other pathological manifestations.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of C. spicatus aqueous extract on edema, peritonitis, nociception, coagulation, haemorrhage and indirect haemolytic activity induced by Bothrops atrox venom (BAV).


METHODS
Dried and pulverized leaves were extracted with distilled water. Envenoming was induced by administration of B. atrox snake venom in Swiss Webster mice. The experimental groups consisted of BAV (at the minimum dose to induce measurable biological responses) and C. spicatus extract (CSE, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 mg/kg/25 μl phosphate-buffered saline) administered individually and in combination (BAVCSE). PBS was used as a control. In vitro assays were also conducted in order to evaluate phospholipase A2 coagulant activities (indirect haemolytic method).


RESULTS
CSE significantly reduced the venom-induced edema and nociception at all concentrations tested and inhibited migration of inflammatory cells at the three least concentrations (5.0, 7.5 and 10 mg/kg/25 μl PBS). CSE was not effective in inhibiting coagulant, haemorrhagic and indirect haemolytic activities of the venom.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that CSE could exhibit a central mechanism for pain inhibition, and may also inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. These findings corroborate the traditional administration of C. spicatus decoction to treat inflammatory disorders, including those caused by B. atrox envenomation.
a Toxicology Laboratory, Pharmaceutical Science Course , Federal University of Amapá , Macapa , Brazil ;
Leide Caroline Dos Santos
LC
Picanço
a Toxicology Laboratory, Pharmaceutical Science Course , Federal University of Amapá , Macapa , Brazil ;
José Adolfo Homobono Machado
JA
Bittencourt
a Toxicology Laboratory, Pharmaceutical Science Course , Federal University of Amapá , Macapa , Brazil ;
Shayanne Vanessa Correia
SV
Henriques
a Toxicology Laboratory, Pharmaceutical Science Course , Federal University of Amapá , Macapa , Brazil ;
Juliane Silva
JS
da Silva
a Toxicology Laboratory, Pharmaceutical Science Course , Federal University of Amapá , Macapa , Brazil ;
Juliana Maria da Silva
JM
Oliveira
b Secretary of Health, Zoonosis Service , Macapa , Brazil ;
José Renato
JR
Ribeiro
c Department of Food Science and Technology , University of Nebraska-Lincoln , Lincoln , NE , USA ;
Antony-Babu
AB
Sanjay
d Drugs Laboratory, Pharmaceutical Science Course , Federal University of Amapá , Macapa , Brazil ;
José Carlos Tavares
JC
Carvalho
e Laboratoire De Biodiversité Et Biotechnologies Microbiennes, Observatoire Océanologique , Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS , Banyuls-sur-Mer , France.
Didier
D
Stien
a Toxicology Laboratory, Pharmaceutical Science Course , Federal University of Amapá , Macapa , Brazil ;
Jocivânia Oliveira da
JO
Silva
D000700:Analgesics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000931:Antidotes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D017837:Bothrops; D029770:Costus / Q000737:chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D059225:Nociception / Q000187:drug effects; D059226:Nociceptive Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014757:Viper Venoms
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000931:Antidotes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014757:Viper Venoms; D054467:Phospholipases A2
Medicinal plants; snakebite; toxins