Search Results (2)

Crotalus venom has broad biological activity, including neurotoxic, myotoxic, hematologic, and cytotoxic compounds that induce severe systemic repercussions. We evaluated the pathophysiological and clinical significance of Crotalus durissus cascavella (Cdc) venom-induced pulmonary impairment in mice. We conducted a randomized experimental study, involving 72 animals intraperitoneally inoculated with saline solution in the control group (CG), as well as venom in the experimental group (EG). The animals were euthanized at predetermined intervals (1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h), and lung fragments were collected for H&E and Masson histological analysis. The CG did not present inflammatory alterations in pulmonary parenchyma. In the EG, interstitial and alveolar swelling, necrosis, septal losses followed by alveolar distensions, and areas of atelectasis in the pulmonary parenchyma were observed after three hours. The EG morphometric analysis presented pulmonary inflammatory infiltrates at all time intervals, being more significant at three and six (p = 0.035) and six and 12 h (p = 0.006). The necrosis zones were significant at intervals of one and 24 h (p = 0.001), one and 48 h (p = 0.001), and three and 48 h (p = 0.035). Crotalus durissus cascavella venom induces a diffuse, heterogeneous, and acute inflammatory injury in the pulmonary parenchyma, with potential clinical implications for respiratory mechanics and gas exchange. The early recognition and prompt treatment of this condition are essential to prevent further lung injury and to improve outcomes. Full article

In this work we have characterized the action of the naringin, a flavonoid found in grapefruit and known for its various pharmacological effects, which include antioxidant blood lipid lowering and anticancer activity, on the structure and biochemical activities of a secretory phospholipase A (sPLA2) from Crotalus durissus cascavella, an important protein involved in the releasinge of arachidonic acid in phospholipid membranes. sPLA2 was incubated with naringin (mol:mol) at 37 °C and a discrete reduction in the UV scanning signal and a modification of the circular dichroism spectra were observed after treatment with naringin, suggesting modifications of the secondary structure of the protein. This flavonoid was able to decrease enzymatic activity and some pharmacological effects, such as myonecrosis, platelet aggregation, and neurotoxic activity caused by sPLA2, however, the inflammatory effect was not affected by naringin. In addition, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data were collected for sPLA2 and naringin-treated sPLA2 to evaluate possible modifications of the protein structure. These structural investigations have shown that sPLA2 is an elongated dimer in solution and after treatment with naringin a conformational change in the dimeric configuration was observed. Our results suggest that structural modification may be correlated with the loss of enzymatic activity and alterations in pharmacological properties. Full article