Preliminary assessment of Hedychium coronarium essential oil on fibrinogenolytic and coagulant activity induced by Bothrops and Lachesis snake venoms

Abstract

BackgroundThe search for new inhibitors of snake venom toxins is essential to complement or even replace traditional antivenom therapy, especially in relation to compounds that neutralize the local effects of envenomations. Besides their possible use as alternative to traditional antivenom therapy, some plant species possess bioactive secondary metabolites including essential oils, which can be extracted from weeds that are considered substantial problems for agriculture, such as Hedychium coronarium.MethodsThe essential oils of leaves and rhizomes from H. coronarium were extracted by hydrodistillation, and their potential inhibitory effects on the coagulant and fibrinogenolytic activities induced by the venoms of Lachesis muta, Bothrops atrox and Bothrops moojeni were analyzed. Citrated human plasma was used to evaluate the clotting time whereas changes in fibrinogen molecules were visualized by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. The experimental design used for testing coagulation inhibition was randomized in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (concentration × essential oils), with three replications. The essential oils were compared since they were extracted from different organs of the same botanical species, H. coronarium.ResultsThe results suggest that the oils interact with venom proteases and plasma constituents, since all oils evaluated, when previously incubated with venoms, were able to inhibit the clotting effect, with less inhibition when oils and plasma were preincubated prior to the addition of venoms.ConclusionsThus, after extensive characterization of their pharmacological and toxicological effects, the essential oils can be used as an alternative to complement serum therapy, especially considering that these plant metabolites generally do not require specific formulations and may be used topically immediately after extraction.

Inhibition by essential oils of Mentha viridis and Mentha pulegium (Lamiaceae) in proteolysis, fibrinogenolysis and coagulation caused by venomous snakes

“…The rhizomes and leaves essential oils from H. coronarium did not show any proteolytic effect on fibrinogen (Miranda et al, 2014), corroborating with the results obtained in the present study with M. viridis and M. pulegium essential oils. Miranda et al (2014) also described that essential oils were unable to inhibit fibrinogenolysis induced by L. muta muta, B. moojeni and B. atrox venoms at the same conditions (preincubation of venoms or fibrinogen for 30 min at 37 °C with oil volumes of 0.6 and 1.2 μl).…”

“…They may act to protect blood molecules against the action of toxins or as enzyme inhibitors or enhancers, interacting directly with the toxins. Miranda et al (2014) described assays with rhizome and leaves essential oils from Hedychium coronarium in which the authors preincubated these oils with B. moojeni venoms 100 ± 0.01 0 ± 0.0* 0 ± 0.0* 0 ± 0.0* 4.8 100 ± 0.02 0 ± 0.0* 0 ± 0.0* 0 ± 0.0* before the addition of plasma. The data obtained by these authors corroborate the results found in the present work, whose inhibitory effect on coagulation induced by the venom is evidenced when the oils are submitted to presence of venoms before addition of plasma.…”

“…Therefore, terpenes and phenylpropanoids that make up the complex mixtures defined as essential oils, found in varying amounts and structures, are responsible for several pharmacological and toxic effects (Miranda et al, 2014). Their wide characterization is made necessary so that they can be used in products intended for human consumption in an effective and safe manner.…”

BETEL LEAF ESSENTIAL OIL (Piper betle L.) FOR PEOPLE WITH FREEZING FACTORS BLOOD DISORDERS

“…12 Based on blood clotting curve of the betle leaf's essential oil, it can be concluded that the higher the concentration is, the faster the blood clotting process takes place. 13 The test results of blood clots increase as the concentration of essential oil increases. The results are as follows: essential oils ½ times dilution for 99.67 seconds; ¼ times dilution for 127 seconds; 1/8 times dilution for 179 seconds; and 1/16 times dilution for 242.67 seconds.…”

Essential Oils from <i>Mentha viridis</i> (L). L. and <i>Mentha pulegium</i> L.: Cytogenotoxic Effects on Human Cells

“…However, there are a few studies on genotoxicity evaluations, the effect on phospholipase or even potential anti-snakebite activities of the essential oils or their constituents, highlighting a wide range of studies to be explored [8] [9] [10].…”