Experimental Lachesis muta rhombeata envenomation and effects of soursop (Annona muricata) as natural antivenom

 

Caroline Marroni Cremonez¹, Flávia Pine Leite¹, Karla de Castro Figueiredo Bordon¹, Felipe Augusto Cerni¹, lara Aimê Cardoso¹, Zita Maria de Oliveira Gregório², Rodrigo Cançado Gonçalves de Souza³, Ana Maria de Souza², Eliane Candiani Arantes¹

 

1 Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

2 Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

3 Nucleo Serra Grande for Captive Breeding of Lachesis muta rhombeata, CTF Ibama MMA, 495100 Itacaré, BA, Brazil.

 

ABSTRACT

Background

In the Atlantic forest of the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, local population often uses the fruit juice and the aqueous extract of leaves of soursop (Annona muricata L.) to treat Lachesis muta rhombeata envenomation. Envenomation is a relevant health issue in these areas, especially due to its severity and because the production and distribution of antivenom is limited in these regions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relevance of the use of soursop leaf extract and its juice against envenomation by Lachesis muta rhombeata.

Methods

We evaluated the biochemical, hematological and hemostatic parameters, the blood pressure, the inflammation process and the lethality induced by Lachesis muta rhombeata snake venom. We also assessed the action of the aqueous extract of leaves (AmL) and juice (AmJ) from A. muricata on the animal organism injected with L. m. rhombeata venom (LmrV) in the laboratory environment.

Results

LmrV induced a decrease of total protein, albumin and glucose; and increase of creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and urea concentrations. It provoked hemoconcentration followed by reduction of hematocrit, an increase in prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time and a decrease of the blood pressure. LmrV induced the release of interleukin-6, an increase in neutrophils and changes in the serum protein profile, characteristic of the acute inflammatory process. LD₅₀ values were similar for the groups injected with LmrV and treated or untreated with AmJ and AmL. Both treatments play a role on the maintenance of blood glucose, urea and coagulation parameters and exert a protective action against the myotoxicity. However, they seem to worsen the hypotension caused by LmrV.

Conclusion

The treatments with AmJ and AmL present some beneficial actions, but they might intensify some effects of the venom. Therefore, additional studies on A. muricata are necessary to enable its use as natural antivenom for bushmaster snakebite.

Key words: Lachesis muta rhombeata; Bushmaster; Natural antivenom; Antiophidic action; Soursop; Annona muricata L.

 

Received: December 18, 2015.

Revised: February 29, 2016.

Accepted: March 08, 2016.

Correspondence: ecabraga@fcfrp.usp.br

 

Competing interests

The authors declare that there are no competing interests.

 

Authors' contributions

CMC was the master student responsible for the project, and was involved in the organization and execution of the experimentation section, acquisition of data, statistical analysis and interpretation of data, drafting and revising the manuscript. ECA was the mentor and senior researcher of this project, and was involved since the conception of the project, the analysis and interpretation of data, and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. FPL, FAC and IAC made substantial contributions during the experimental execution, and revised the manuscript. KCFB was involved in the design of the project and provided fruitful discussions and guidance during the development of the project, and revised the manuscript. RCGS was responsible for the acquisition and donation of Lachesis muta rhombeata venom, and critical revision of the manuscript, enlightening the Clinical relevance of the results obtained during the project. ZMOG and AMS revised the manuscript, and shared their expertise in the hematological profile of the envenomation. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

doi: 10.1186/S40409-016-0067-6