RESUMO
The aim of this work was to investigate the hemolysis and blood clotting activity of Lomonia obliqua venom and the ability of some Brazilian marine algal extracts (Canistrocarpus cervicornis, Stypopodium zonale and Dictyota pfaffi) to antagonize such biological activities. L. obliqua caterpillars are dangerous to human beings and envenomation symptoms are characterized by hemorrhagic, hemolytic and blood clotting disorders, and acute renal failure, which sometimes lead to the death of the victims. Through in vitro experiments we have shown that L. obliqua venom is able to clot human plasma and hemolize human erythrocytes and that the coagulation activity of the venom is inhibited by the extracts of C. cervicornis, S. zonale and D. pfaffi. In contrast, C. cervicornis and S. zonale extracts did not inhibit the hemolytic activity of L. oblqua, as did the extract of D. pfaffi. These finding indicate that marine algae may be used as antivenoms or may contribute to the development of compounds with antilonomic effects.
Assuntos
Phaeophyceae/química , Alga Marinha/química , Peçonhas/toxicidade , Injúria Renal Aguda/induzido quimicamente , Animais , Transtornos da Coagulação Sanguínea/induzido quimicamente , Brasil , Eritrócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Hemólise/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Larva , Mariposas/química , Mariposas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Peçonhas/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
Phospholipases A(2) enzymes are found in many biological sources, including snake venoms. Here we reviewed aspects of PLA(2)s including biological and structural features, interaction with binding receptors, inhibitors used on structure-function relationship studies and highlighting the mechanism of action and role of the snake venom PLA(2)s products, the lysophosphatidylcholine.