Anti-Ophidian Properties of the Aqueous Extract of Scleria pterota on Toxic and Pharmacological Effects Induced by Bothrops Snake Venoms.

¹Fernandes, V.C.; ^1,2Marcussi, S.; ¹Amui, S.F.; ¹Silva, E.G.; ¹Silveira, L. B.; ³Sant´Ana, C. D.; ¹França, S.C.; ¹Pereira, A.M.S.; ¹Pereira, P.S.; and ¹Soares, A.M.

1 Unidade de Biotecnologia-UNAERP, Ribeirão Preto-SP; 2 Depto Bioquímica e Imunologia, FMRP-USP, Ribeirão Preto-SP; 3 Depto. Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas-FCFRP-USP, Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brasil.

Several Brazilian plants have been utilized in folk medicine as anti-ophidian. However, only a few species have been scientifically investigated and still less have their active components isolated and characterized both structurally and functionally. The aqueous extract from the leaves of S. pterota were incubated with the venoms for 30min at 37°C at different ratios and then submitted to several enzymatic and biological assays. The extract was able to inhibit the PLA2 activity of the B. jararacussu and B. alternatus venoms at 1:100 and 1:200 (w/w). Coagulation was abolished by the extract at 1:10 (w/w). Hemorrhage induced by B. jararacussu, B. moojeni, B. alternatus and B. neuwiedi was inhibited at 1:50 (w/w). PAGE showed that the extract did not degrade the venom proteins, thus suggesting the possibility of specific interactions with no apparent alteration of the integrity of the active proteins. Medicinal plants constitute very rich sources of natural inhibitors of animal toxins, and this extract displays efficient inhibitors of snake venom proteases, either serinoproteases or metalloproteases.

Financial Support: FAPESP, CNPq, CAPES and UNAERP.

Correspondence to: luckinhas@netsite.com.br or andreimar@unaerp.br