Vellozia flavicans Mart. ex Schult. hydroalcoholic extract inhibits the neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu venom

Abstract

BackgroundSnakebite is a significant public health issue in tropical countries. In Brazil, some of the most common snake envenomations are from Bothrops. Bothrops bites trigger local and systemic effects including edema, pain, erythema, cyanosis, infections, and necrosis. Vellozia flavicans is a plant from the Brazilian “cerrado” (savanna) that is popularly used as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Since inflammation develops quickly after Bothrops bites, which can lead to infection, the aim of the present study was to observe possible anti-snake venom and antimicrobial activities of V. flavicans (Vf).MethodsThe chromatographic profile of the main constituents from the Vf leaf hydroalcoholic extract was obtained by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The anti-snake venom activity was measured by Vf’s ability to neutralize the in vitro neuromuscular blockade caused by Bothrops jararacussu venom (Bjssu) in a mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm model (PND). After a 20 min incubation, preparations of PND were added to Tyrode’s solution (control); Vf (0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/mL); 40 μg/mL Bjssu; pre-incubation for 30 min with Bjssu and 1 mg/mL Vf; and a Bjssu pretreated preparation (for 10 min) followed by 1 mg/mL Vf. Myographic recording was performed, and the contractile responses were recorded. The antimicrobial activity (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC]) was obtained for Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis, using gentamicin and vancomycin as positive controls.ResultsTLC analysis yielded several compounds from Vf, such as flavonoids (quercetin) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid). Bjssu completely blocked the contractile responses of PND preparations, while Vf preserved 97% (±10%) of the contractile responses when incubated with Bjssu. In the PND pretreated with Bjssu, Vf was able to inhibit the neuromuscular blockade progress. MIC and MBC of Vf ranged from 2.5 to 5.0 mg/mL for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus strains, while no antimicrobial activity was observed for E. coli and E. faecalis.ConclusionsThe hydroalcoholic extract from Vf leaves was able to neutralize and decrease the in vitro neuromuscular blockade caused by Bjssu. However, it did not show significant antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria.

Effects of Vochysia haenkeana extract on the neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararaca venom on chick biventer cervicis preparation in vitro

“…Ex Schult. [22], but few plants have been studied by its ability in counteracting the toxic effects after the start of venom action, like as Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet [23,24], Jatropha elliptica (Pohl) Oken. [25] and Terminalia fagifolia Mart.…”

“…[25] and Terminalia fagifolia Mart. [22]. Postvit assays allows to show the capacity of certain plants in reaching the local where the snake venom is and avoiding the paralysis evolution [25].…”

Evaluation of the Safety of Three Phenolic Compounds from <i>Dipteryx alata</i> Vogel with Antiophidian Potential

“…Hydroalcoholic extracts of leaves from Casearia gossypiosperma [53] and Vellozia flavicans [54] were validated using the same post-venom model. In all cases, the initial damage induced by the crude Bjssu venom was irreversible, but the damage progression was controlled, conferring an anti-bothropic property to those plants.…”

Anti-Inflammatory and Antibothropic Properties of Jatropha Elliptica, a Plant from Brazilian Cerrado Biome

“…Myographic assays showed that the pre-incubation model was more advantageous than post-venom model, since it permitted to TE constituents to neutralize the venom constituents in vitro before exposing the phrenic nerve preparations. Besides, it showed the ability of the TE to avoid paralysis evolution, suggesting antibothropic properties, such as Casearia gossypiosperma, 12 Vellozia flavicans, 19 and phenolics from Dipteryx alata. 20 Some constituents of our J. elliptica extract, such as flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin, and rutin), probably have a role in the protection against the paralysis induced by Bjssu, although they were found in a very small content (0.08%).…”