Pharmacological characterization of cnidarian extracts from the Caribbean Sea: evaluation of anti-snake venom and antitumor properties

Abstract

BackgroundCnidarians produce toxins, which are composed of different polypeptides that induce pharmacological effects of biotechnological interest, such as antitumor, antiophidic and anti-clotting activities. This study aimed to evaluate toxicological activities and potential as antitumor and antiophidic agents contained in total extracts from five cnidarians: Millepora alcicornis, Stichodactyla helianthus, Plexaura homomalla, Bartholomea annulata and Condylactis gigantea (total and body wall).MethodsThe cnidarian extracts were evaluated by electrophoresis and for their phospholipase, proteolytic, hemorrhagic, coagulant, fibrinogenolytic, neuromuscular blocking, muscle-damaging, edema-inducing and cytotoxic activities.ResultsAll cnidarian extracts showed indirect hemolytic activity, but only S. helianthus induced direct hemolysis and neurotoxic effect. However, the hydrolysis of NBD-PC, a PLA2 substrate, was presented only by the C. gigantea (body wall) and S. helianthus. The extracts from P. homomalla and S. helianthus induced edema, while only C. gigantea and S. helianthus showed intensified myotoxic activity. The proteolytic activity upon casein and fibrinogen was presented mainly by B. annulata extract and all were unable to induce hemorrhage or fibrinogen coagulation. Cnidarian extracts were able to neutralize clotting induced by Bothrops jararacussu snake venom, except M. alcicornis. All cnidarian extracts were able to inhibit hemorrhagic activity induced by Bothrops moojeni venom. Only the C. gigantea (body wall) inhibited thrombin-induced coagulation. All cnidarian extracts showed antitumor effect against Jurkat cells, of which C. gigantea (body wall) and S. helianthus were the most active; however, only C. gigantea (body wall) and M. alcicornis were active against B16F10 cells.ConclusionThe cnidarian extracts analyzed showed relevant in vitro inhibitory potential over the activities induced by Bothrops venoms; these results may contribute to elucidate the possible mechanisms of interaction between cnidarian extracts and snake venoms.

Proteotransciptomics of the Most Popular Host Sea Anemone Entacmaea quadricolor Reveals Not All Toxin Genes Expressed by Tentacles Are Recruited into Its Venom Arsenal

“…Next to no studies have examined the effects of the sea anemone on components of the coagulation cascade to see whether they are able to affect the haemostatic system of prey. Oliveira et al [ 67 ] demonstrated sea anemone extracts from Millepora alcicornis , S. helianthus , Plexaura homomalla , Bartholomea annulata and Condylactis gigantea were able to inhibit haemorrhagic activity induced by Bothrops moojeni venom. Only the C. gigantea (body wall) extracts inhibited thrombin-induced coagulation [ 67 ].…”

“…Oliveira et al [ 67 ] demonstrated sea anemone extracts from Millepora alcicornis , S. helianthus , Plexaura homomalla , Bartholomea annulata and Condylactis gigantea were able to inhibit haemorrhagic activity induced by Bothrops moojeni venom. Only the C. gigantea (body wall) extracts inhibited thrombin-induced coagulation [ 67 ]. Given the abundance of the haemostatic and haemorrhagic toxins detected in E. quadricolor venom and the abundance of these genes in other sea anemone transcriptomes, it would be useful to investigate haemostatic and haemorrhagic activities of sea anemone venom in more detail.…”

New multienzymatic complex formed between human cathepsin D and snake venom phospholipase A2

“…Overall, many approaches have discussed the involvement of PLA 2 s in inflammatory processes [73][74][75]. In addition, PLA 2 s also act on cell membrane metabolism and the production of arachidonic acid, a known precursor of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes [76][77][78]. Johansson and coworkers demonstrated that incubation of PLA 2 s with rat liver lysosomes resulted in the extravasation of its lysosomal constituents [29].…”

Successful Culture of Pelagia noctiluca (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) Over Time: A Continuous Supply of the Holoplanktonic Jellyfish for Research and Industrial Applications

“…Since marine bioprospecting began, the world's oceans and their ecosystems have been considered valuable sources to explore for new natural products with a variety of biotechnological applications (Rocha et al, 2011;Merquiol et al, 2019). Although sponges are the foremost providers of marine bioactive compounds, animals belonging to the phylum Cnidaria (such as jellyfish, sea anemones and corals) are also promising reservoirs of compounds with potential drug activity (Oliveira et al, 2018;Merquiol et al, 2019).…”