Ethnobotanic study of Randia aculeata (Rubiaceae) in Jamapa, Veracruz, Mexico, and its anti-snake venom effects on mouse tissue

Abstract

Abstract:In Mexico, medicinal plants are widely used. The use of Randia aculeata by healers against snakebites has never been scientifically tested in relation to possible effects on blood parameters and muscle tissue damage. Interviews were carried out in Jamapa, Veracuz, Mexico, with local residents to collect information about the traditional use of Randia aculeata. In this locality, seven pieces of fruit from the plant are mixed in a liter of alcohol, and then administered orally against snakebites. By using histological techniques and a murine model, we explored its cytoprotective properties against the effects of Crotalus simus and Bothrops asper venoms. Possible protections provided by the plant against tissue damage to skeletal and cardiac muscles and against the typical loss of red blood cells were analyzed. Randia aculeata caused an increase in microhematocrit and total hemoglobin, parameters that are often decremented in association with the loss of red blood cells, which is a characteristic effect of animal venom. Randia aculeata was also shown to protect against the lowering of platelet levels caused by Bothrops asper venom. Finally, Randia aculeata produced a partial inhibition of necrosis following administration of snake venom in skeletal and myocardial muscles. The present results provide solid evidence for the traditional use of Randia aculeata against snakebites, as demonstrated by protection against muscular tissue damage and the diminution of red blood cells.Key words: Rubiaceae, antivenoms, Bothrops, Crotalus, cytoprotection. Original PaPer INTRODUCTIONOphidian accidents represent a serious health problem, as they lead to an estimated 50,000 deaths and another 22,000 permanent injuries, including amputations and other losses of bodily functions that impede proper development within society (1). Among medical treatments for such accidents, medicinal plants used as ophidian antidotes generate special interest because of their potential pharmacological use. However, information remains scarce and many cases have not been subjected to true scientific analysis.In Mexico, a few plants have been evaluated including Brongniartia podalyrioides and B. intermedia, which were found to contain edunol, a substance that neutralizes the cardiological and toxic effects of the Bothrops atrox venom (2). In the country there are snakebite healers called "culebreros" that claim to know the proper antiophidic herbal remedies and methods of application (3). These healers often represent the only alternative given the lack of medical services that could otherwise provide anti-ophidian serum based on scientific research. In the best of cases, such a healer is apprenticed based on generations of practice that has led to an accumulation of knowledge on the effectiveness of distinct medicinal plants. A healer with this background is in reality keeping a valuable tradition alive (4). However, information on this use of medicinal plants is scarce and in many cases lacks scientific analysis.Ethnobotanic study of Randia ...

Effect of the ethanolic extract of Randia aculeata’s fruit in heart and skeletal muscle oxidative stress caused by snake venom

“…Probably this event is largely due to the fact that the powerful enzymatic system that causes necrosis is inhibited by different phytochemicals, which are in the ethanol extract. 6 Other studies have shown an enzymatic inhibition for the in vitro proteolysis by ethanol extract from Renealmia alpinia as proteolytic activity of venoms and is responsible for a fibrinogen decrease in plasma, in our model it can be seen that fibrinogen is not reduced in groups that received venom and later were administered with the ethanol extract, since when proteases are inhibited, fibrinogen will remain, leading to an antihemorrhagic effect. 11 A minor systemic damage due to the plant can be observed because CK and LDH enzymes only raise their activity in those groups that received the venom, these enzymes increase the muscular damage and when both are raised it represents a cardiac damage 12 , in groups where we administered the plant plus the venom, these increase was not present, and this is consistent with a minor damage found in skeletal muscle and heart, in accordance to earlier studies.…”

“…The cytoprotective effect on skeletal muscle, myocardium and blood has also been shown. 6 In light of what is mentioned above, it was our interest to assess whether the protective effect on skeletal muscle and heart is due to the modification, by the plant, of the oxidative stress parameters generated by the snake's venom, and if it contributes to a lower degree of cell death.…”

Phytochemical composition and biological activities of the plants of the genus Randia

“…The ethanol extract of R. aculeata fruit is effective against the venoms of the Crotalus simus and Bothrops asper snakes: the extract decreases the tissue damage of skeletal and cardiac muscles and the loss of red blood cells (Gallardo-Casas et al 2012). It is suggested that extract inhibits the proteolytic enzymes involved in the venom hemotoxic effects.…”

“…People of different countries in America (e.g., Mexico, Colombia, Panama, and Brasil) use the leaves, stems, and fruit of several species of Randia in traditional medicine against a wide range of diseases (e.g., renal, respiratory, circulatory, cancer, malaria, snake bites) and symptoms (e.g., inflammation, pain, diarrhea) (Bye et al 1991, Borhidi & Diego-Pérez 2008, Méndez-Valenzuela & Hernández-Martínez 2009, Erbano & Duarte 2011, Gallardo-Casas et al 2012. In Mexico, ethnobotanical uses of Randia are known since 1,777 with records of Tarahumaras Indians that consumed the fruits of Randia echinocarpa Moc.…”

Antibacterial activity and acute toxicity study of standardized aqueous extract of Randia monantha Benth fruit

“…Stems, leaves and fruits of several Randia genus species contain compounds such as 1-nitropyrene, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, sterols, β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol, campesterol, oleanolic acid acetate, oleanolic acid-3-α-L-arabinoside, and mesembryanthemoidigenic acid, among others, which have been shown to confer biological, antioxidant and various pharmacological properties (Cano-Campos et al, 2011;Kandimalla et al, 2016;Lapikanon et al, 1983). The Randia monantha Benth fruit, known as a "crucetillo" because of the cross shape in which the thorns are presented, is used as an antivenom beverage against poisonous animals and to which various pharmacological properties are attributed, since it is used as an anticancer, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, to relieve stomachache and many other diseases (Gallardo-Casas et al, 2012). Currently, the fruit is used in various liquors, predominantly: brandy, ethanol, and Jerez wine.…”