Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2003):

Anticrotalic and antitumoral activities of gel filtration fractions of aqueous extract from Tabernaemontana catharinensis (Apocynaceae).

Full Abstract

The high mortality caused by Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom is mainly due to crotoxin, which acts on the neuromuscular junction inhibiting the mechanism mediating acetylcholine release, thus leading to motor and respiratory paralysis and subsequently to animal death. We recently demonstrated that the aqueous extract (AE) of Tabernaemontana catharinensis can inhibit the lethal activity of C. d. terrificus venom. Eight fractions, PI to PVIII, were obtained by gel filtration of the extract on Sephadex G-10, and assayed for lethality and cytotoxicity. Fraction PVII [2.0 mg/100 g rat/50 microl saline solution (ss)] injected intramuscularly (i.m.) 20 s after the venom (240 microg) or crotoxin (200 microg/50 microl ss) neutralized the lethal activity of 2 LD50 of both. Fractions PI, PVI and PVIII (5.0 mg/100 g rat/50 microl ss) presented potent antitumoral activity in vitro against cells from human breast carcinoma (SK-BR-3) after 24 h incubation, as measured by Mosmann colorimetric method. Fraction PVII contains 12-methoxy-4-methylvoachalotine as its major component. These results demonstrate that the antivenom and antitumoral activities of the AE of T. catharinensis are exerted by different substances present in fraction PVII and fractions PI, PVI and PVIII, respectively, whose characteristics are distinct in terms of staining and Rf when analyzed by thin layer chromatography. The results also show that a preliminary fractionation by Sephadex G-10 gel filtration is a good option as a first step for isolation of biologically active substances from T. catharinensis.

Author information

Author/s: de Almeida, Lucilene (L); Cintra, Adelia C O (AC); Veronese, Elen L G (EL); Nomizo, Auro (A); Franco, João José (JJ); Arantes, Eliane C (EC); Giglio, José Roberto (JR); Sampaio, Suely Vilela (SV);

Affiliation: Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto-USP, Avenida do Café, s/n, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP (Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2004-Jan; vol 137 (issue 1) : pp 19-27

Dates: Created 2004/02/26; Completed 2004/06/24; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 14984700, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - isolation & purification; pharmacology Cell Line, Tumor Chromatography, Gel Crotalid Venoms - antagonists & inhibitors Crotalus Dose-Response Relationship, Drug

Humans Male Plant Extracts - chemistry Rats Rats, Wistar Survival Rate Tabernaemontana - chemistry

Associated Chemicals: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (0) ; Crotalid Venoms (0) ; Plant Extracts (0)

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