Potential use of extract of the plant Schwartiza brasiliensis (choisy) bedell ex gir.-Cañas against the toxic effects of the venom of Bothrops jararaca or B. jararacussu

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 125; p. 109951
• Main Authors: de Souza, Jenifer Frouche, de Oliveira, Eduardo Coriolano, da Silva, Ana Cláudia Rodrigues, da Silva, Vagner Pereira, Coelho Kaplan, Maria Auxiliadora, Figueiredo, Maria Raquel, Flores Sanchez, Eladio, Lopes Fuly, André
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01-05-2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Intravenous; Administration, Oral; Animals; Antivenom; Bothrops; Bothrops jararaca; Bothrops jararacussu; Crotalid Venoms - antagonists & inhibitors; Crotalid Venoms - toxicity; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Magnoliopsida - chemistry; Mice; Plant extract; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - toxicity; Schwartzia brasiliensis; Snake Bites - drug therapy; Snake Bites - physiopathology; Snake venom; Plant extract; Bothrops jararacussu; Schwartzia brasiliensis; Snake venom; Antivenom; Bothrops jararaca
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.109951

Envenomation by snakes is a worldwide health public issue, and antivenoms are less efficient in neutralizing local toxic effects. Thus, more efficient therapies to treat patients deserve attention, and plants have been extensively tested. So, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the aqueous fraction of the plant Schwartzia brasiliensis to inhibit some toxic activities of Bothrops jararaca or B. jararacussu venom. S. brasiliensis inhibited coagulant, hemolytic, proteolytic, hemorrhagic, edematogenic, and lethal activities of both venoms, regardless if plant was mixed together with venoms or injected after them as well as the route of administration (intravenous, oral or subcutaneous) of the plant. The S. brasiliensis extract showed no toxicity to mice or red blood cells. Thus, S. brasiliensis may be useful as an alternative treatment for snakebite envenomation and aid antivenom therapy to neutralize relevant toxic activities in patients bitten by Bothrops species.