Preliminary assessment of Hedychium coronarium essential oil on fibrinogenolytic and coagulant activity induced by Bothrops and Lachesis snake venoms

Variation in the Chemical Composition of Endemic Specimens of Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig from the Amazon and In Silico Investigation of the ADME/Tox Properties of the Major Compounds

Four species of the genus Hedychium can be found in Brazil. Hedychium coronarium is a species endemic to India and Brazil. In this paper, we collected six specimens of H. coronarium for evaluation of their volatile chemical profiles. For this, the essential oils of these specimens were extracted using hydrodistillation from plant samples collected in the state of Pará, Brazil, belonging to the Amazon region in the north of the country. Substance compounds were identified with GC/MS. The most abundant constituent identified in the rhizome and root oils was 1,8-cineole (rhizome: 35.0-66.1%; root: 19.6-20.8%). Leaf blade oil was rich in β-pinene (31.6%) and (E)-caryophyllene (31.6%). The results from this paper allow for greater knowledge about the volatile chemical profile of H. coronarium specimens, in addition to disseminating knowledge about the volatile compounds present in plant species in the Amazon region.

The potential of Brazilian native plant species used in the therapy for snakebites: A literature review

Snakebite envenoming is a potentially fatal disease categorized as a neglected public health issue for not receiving the appropriate attention from national and international health authorities. The most affected people by this problem usually live in poor rural communities, where medical resources are often sparse and, in some instances, there is even a scarcity of serum therapy. The administration of the appropriate antivenom is the only specific treatment available, however it has limited efficacy against venom-induced local effects. In this scenario, various plant species are used as local first aid for the treatment of snakebite accidents in Brazil, and some of them can effectively inhibit lethality, neurotoxicity, hemorrhage, and venom enzymes activities. This review compiles a list of plants used in the treatment of snakebites in Brazil, focusing on the native Brazilian species registered in the databases Pubmed, Scielo, Scopus and Google Scholar. All these searches were limited to peer-reviewed journals written in English, with the exception of a few articles written in Portuguese. The most cited native plant species were Casearia sylvestris Sw., Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., Mikania glomerata Spreng., Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) S.F.Blake and Dipteryx alata Vogel, all used to decrease the severity of toxic signs, inhibit proteolytic and hemorrhagic activities, thus increasing survival time and neutralizing myotoxicity effects. Different active compounds showing important activity against the snake venoms and their toxins include flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins. Although some limitations to the experimental studies with medicinal plants were observed, including lack of comparison with control drugs and unknown active extracts compounds, species with anti-venom characteristics are effective and considered as candidates for the development of adjuvants in the treatment of snake envenomation. Further studies on the chemistry and pharmacology of traditionally used plant species will help to understand the role that snakebite herbal remedies may display in local medical health systems. It might also contribute to the development of alternative or complementary treatments to reduce the number of severe disabilities and deaths.

Anthelmintic effect of essential rhizome oil from Hedychium coronarium Koenig (Zingiberaceae) introduced in Northeastern Brazil

Hedychium coronarium is native to Tropical Asia and has been introduced into several Brazilian biomes. Significant biological properties described for the essential oil (EO) from this species' rhizomes include antimicrobial, larvicidal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, phytotoxic, and anthelmintic activities. The primary constituents identified in this study by GC-MS in the EO were monoterpenes 1,8-cineole (33.5%), β-pinene (17.0%), α-terpineol (7.7%), α-pinene (7.3%), limonene (5.2%), and p-cymene (4.9%), comprising 75.6% of total oil compounds. The main monoterpenes' EO and standards were tested against N2 (susceptible) and UVR15 (resistant) adult nematode Caenorhabditis elegans strains, with varying dead rates in motility tests.. Nematocidal activity was not attributed to 1,8-cineole and β-pinene, the main H. coronarium rhizome oil components, as both exhibited an inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) ≥ 5 mg/mL. On the other hand, the α-pinene (IC₅₀, 1.69 mg/mL) and (S)-(-)-limonene (IC₅₀, 1.66 mg/mL) standards demonstrated more efficient action than rhizome oil in motility tests, with significant adult C. elegans nematode mortality rates. These results support the hypothesis that the combination of H. coronarium EO constituents can be helpful as a nematicidal product, due to their synergistic action.

Essential Oil from Lippia origanoides (Verbenaceae): Haemostasis and Enzymes Activity Alterations

BACKGROUND

The search for natural inhibitors of snake venom toxins is essential to supplement or even replace the serum therapy. The aim of this work was to evaluate the pharmacological properties of essential oil from Lippia origanoides Kunth. (Verbenaceae).

METHODS

The oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and the constituents were identified and quantified by GC-MS and GC-FID. The essential oil from L. origanoides was evaluated in hemolysis tests, on the activities of phospholipases A2 and serine proteases and in coagulation and thrombolysis induced by different snake venoms.

RESULTS

The major constituents of essential oil were carvacrol, p-cymene, γ-terpinene, and thymol. The oil inhibited approximately 10 % of the phospholipase A2 activity induced by Bothrops atrox, Bothrops jararaca, Bothrops jararacussu and Bothrops moojeni venoms and was not cytotoxic against erythrocytes. However, previous incubation of the oil with B. jararacussu, B. moojeni, and Crotalus durissus terrificus (C.d.t.) venoms resulted in potentiation of hemolytic activity (30 % and 50 % for 0.6 µL mL-1 and 1.2 µL mL-1, respectively). The essential oil presented a procoagulant effect on human citrated plasma, potentiated the thrombolytic action of proteases and phospholipases A2 present in B. jararacussu venom, and serine protease activity induced by B. jararaca and Lachesis muta venoms. When pre-incubated with the C.d.t. venom, however, prothrombotic activity was observed.

CONCLUSION

The results obtained in this work amplify the pharmacological characterization of the essential oil from L. origanoides. However, new studies are fundamental to define the action mechanisms and determine pharmaceutical applications.

BETEL LEAF ESSENTIAL OIL (Piper betle L.) FOR PEOPLE WITH FREEZING FACTORS BLOOD DISORDERS

Betel leaf (Piper betle L.) is a medicinal plant. There betel leaf essential oil content and show a variety of biological activity, including antibacterial. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of betel leaf essential oil on blood coagulation in patients with factor VIII and IX of blood plasma disorders. Isolation of essential oil made by steam distillation method using two kinds of solvents distilled water and n-hexane. N-hexane extract obtained is separated by liquid-liquid extraction and rotary evaporator. The test results of blood clots increases as the concentration of essential oils, namely essential oils ½ times dilution of 99.67 seconds; dilution ¼ times 127 seconds; dilution 1/8 times 179 seconds; and dilution 1/16 times 242.67 seconds.

Protective Effect of the Sulfated Agaran Isolated from the Red Seaweed Laurencia aldingensis Against Toxic Effects of the Venom of the Snake, Lachesis muta

Snakebite is a serious occupational hazard affecting mainly rural populations of tropical and subtropical developing countries. Lachesis muta (Bushmaster) bites are extremely serious but are rarely reported in the literature. Bushmaster envenomings are characterized by intense local pain, edema, neurotoxicity, hypotension, local hemorrhage, and dramatic systemic alterations. Antivenom treatment has regularly been used for more than a century; however, it fails to neutralize local tissue damage and hemorrhage, leading to morbidity or disabilities in victims. Thus, the production and clinical use of antivenom must be improved. The present work characterizes, for the first time, a sulfated polysaccharide from the red seaweed, Laurencia aldingensis, including its neutralizing effect on some toxic activities of L. muta venom. Chemical and spectroscopic analyses showed that L. aldingensis produces sulfated agarans with the A-units partially C-2 sulfated or 6-O-methoxylated presetting the B-units in the cyclized (3,6-anhydro-α-L-galactose) or in the non-cyclized form (α-L-galactose). The latter is significantly substituted by sulfate groups on C-6. In vitro and in vivo assays showed that this sulfated agaran inhibited hemolysis, coagulation, proteolysis, edema, and hemorrhage of L. muta venom. Neutralization of hemorrhagic activity was also observed when the agaran was administered by different routes and after or before the venom injection. Furthermore, the agaran blocked the edema caused by a phospholipase A₂ isolated from the L. muta venom. Experimental evidence therefore indicates that the sulfated agaran of L. aldingensis has potential to aid antivenom therapy of accidents caused by L. muta venom and may help to develop more effective antivenom treatments of snake bites in general.

Phytochemistry and pharmacology of ornamental gingers, Hedychium coronarium and Alpinia purpurata: a review

In this review, the phytochemistry and pharmacology of two ornamental gingers, Hedychium coronarium (butterfly ginger) and Alpinia purpurata (red ginger), are updated, and their botany and uses are described. Flowers of H. coronarium are large, showy, white, yellow or white with a yellow centre and highly fragrant. Inflorescences of A. purpurata are erect spikes with attractive red or pink bracts. Phytochemical investigations on the rhizomes of H. coronarium generated research interest globally. This resulted in the isolation of 53 labdane-type diterpenes, with little work done on the leaves and flowers. Pharmacological properties of H. coronarium included antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, chemopreventive, anti-allergic, larvicidal, anthelminthic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-urolithiatic, anti-angiogenic, neuro-pharmacological, fibrinogenolytic, coagulant and hepatoprotective activities. On the contrary, little is known on the phytochemistry of A. purpurata with pharmacological properties of antioxidant, antibacterial, larvicidal, cytotoxic and vasodilator activities reported in the leaves and rhizomes. There is much disparity in terms of research effort within and between these two ornamental gingers.