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Jorge RJB, Martins RD, Araújo RM, da Silva MA, Monteiro HSA, Ximenes RM. Plants and Phytocompounds Active Against Bothrops Venoms. Curr Top Med Chem 2019; 19:2003-2031. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666190723153925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
:
Snakebite envenomation is an important health problem in tropical countries, with severe
human and social consequences. In Latin America, the Bothrops species constitute the main threat to
humans, and the envenomation caused by these species quickly develops into severe local tissue damage,
including swelling, hemorrhaging, myonecrosis, skin ulceration, and pain. The systemic effects of
envenomation are usually neutralized by antivenom serum therapy, despite its intrinsic risks. However,
neutralization of local tissue damage remains a challenge. To improve actual therapy, two major alternatives
are proposed: the rational design of new specific antibodies for most of the tissue damaging/
poor immunogenic toxins, or the search for new synthetic or natural compounds which are able to
inhibit these toxins and complement the serum therapy. Natural compounds isolated from plants,
mainly from those used in folk medicine to treat snakebite, are a good choice for finding new lead
compounds to improve snakebite treatment and minimize its consequences for the victims. In this article,
we reviewed the most promising plants and phytocompounds active against bothropic venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Jeane Bezerra Jorge
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - René Duarte Martins
- Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, Brazil
| | | | | | - Helena Serra Azul Monteiro
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Rafael Matos Ximenes
- Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
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