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

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.

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

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.

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

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.(AU)

Determinação de club dugs em sangue total por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrometria de massas com analisador hí­brido quadrupolo-tempo de voo (LC-QTOF-MS) / Determination of club drugs in whole blood by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass analyzer (LC-QTOF)

As chamadas club drugs compreendem um vasto grupo de substâncias frequentemente utilizadas em bares, festas e raves, com a finalidade de intensificar o contato social e a estimulação sensorial. Englobam desde substâncias sintéticas comumente conhecidas, como a anfetamina, a metanfetamina, o MDMA, até moléculas de surgimento mais recente, denominadas novas substâncias psicoativas. Isoladas ou associadas a outras drogas, é possível que sejam causa de morte per se, ou que predisponham o usuário a envolver-se em situações potencialmente fatais, sendo necessário que os órgãos de Perícia Criminal (Institutos Médico Legais e Institutos de Criminalística) estejam aptos a detectar e quantificar essas substâncias em amostras biológicas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver um método analítico para identificação e quantificação de club drugs em sangue total, utilizando cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrometria de massas com analisador híbrido quadrupolotempo de voo (LC-QTOF). Após o desenvolvimento do método, este foi validado utilizando as diretrizes do guia de validação do Scientific Working Group for Forensic Toxicology (SWGTOX), sendo analisados de linearidade, limite de detecção, limite de quantificação, efeito matriz, precisão intradia, precisão interdia, exatidão e integridade de diluição, além de recuperação e eficiência do processo. O método desenvolvido compreendeu a determinação de MDA, MDMA, 2C-B, DOB, cetamina, mCPP, cocaína e cocaetileno. Amostras provenientes de casos reais de morte não natural, oriundas do Instituto Médico Legal Aristoclides Teixeira de Goiânia - GO foram analisadas pelo método desenvolvido. 56 casos foram selecionados, em sua maioria com histórico de morte por projétil de arma de fogo e acidente de transito. Das 56 amostras analisadas, 28,5% (n=16) foram positivas para cocaína e/ou cocaetileno. As demais substâncias pesquisadas não foram encontradas nas amostras

Club drugs are a large group of substances consumed in pubs, parties and raves, aiming to intensify social contact and sensorial stimulation. The term comprises largely known substances such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenodioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), as well as so-called new psychoactive substances, which are synthetic drugs recently developed or recently introduced in drug market. Club drugs can be taken alone, combined with each other or, most frequently, with alcohol or other commonly abused drugs such as cocaine. In any of these situations, club drugs can possibly be the cause of death or potentialize the involvement of the user with crime and potentially fatal behavior. Thus, official organisms in charge of criminal investigation must be capable of identifying and quantifying these substances in biological samples. The present work aimed the development of an analytical method to identify and quantify club drugs in whole blood, using liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry with hybrid analyzer quadrupole - time of flight (LC-QTOF). After analytical development, the method was validated according to do Scientific Working Group for Forensic Toxicology (SWGTOX) guidelines, evaluating linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, matrix effect, precision, intermediate precision, bias and dilution integrity, besides recovery and process efficiency. The developed method comprised MDA, MDMA, 2C-B, DOB, ketamine, mCPP, cocaine and cocaethylene determination. Real samples related to non-natural deaths were collected at Institute of the Legal Medicine Aristoclides Teixeira, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, and analyzed by the developed method. 56 cases were selected, most of them related to fire gun injury and traffic events, 28,5% (n=16) of them being positive for cocaine and/or cocaethylene. None of the other drugs comprised in the analysis were detected in these samples