Abstract

The venom of Crotalus ornatus (vCo) poses a threat to human health, as it contains a mixture of toxins that can cause cytotoxic, necrotic, and hemolytic effects. The present study assessed methanolic and acetone extracts from leaves and flowers of Larrea tridentata, as well as the bark of Quercus virginiana as potential suppressors of the toxic effects of vCo in vitro. The content of total phenols, flavonoids, and tannins of the plant extracts were quantified for the suppression of vCo cytotoxicity in two cell culture models, human lymphocytes and porcine aortic endothelial (PAE) cells. Extracts from Q. virginiana displayed a greater concentration of total phenols, flavonoids, and tannins. Co-incubation of lymphocytes and PAE cells with fixed concentrations of vCo and plant extracts resulted in decreased vCo-induced cytotoxicity. A 24-hour co-incubation of lymphocytes with vCo (2.36 ± 0.17 µg/mL) and 0.5 µg/mL of methanolic leaf extract from L. tridentata (LLM) significantly suppressed the venom-induced cytotoxicity by 37.33 ± 8.33%. Similarly, the LLM extract (4 µg/mL) caused a significant decrease in vCo cytotoxicity after 24 hours in PAE cells. In contrast, while the acetone extract of Q. virginiana bark (QA) suppressed cytotoxicity by 29.20 ± 3.51% (p < 0.001) in lymphocytes, it failed to protect PAE cells against vCo after 24 hours. In PAE cells, a shorter 4-hour co-incubation showed significant suppression of cytotoxicity with both extracts. Our results collectively suggest that LLM and QA possess cytoprotective properties against the in vitro toxic effects of vCo, and thus establish extracts from these plants as potential therapeutic interventions against Crotalus envenomation.

摘要

Crotalus ornatus (v Co )的毒液对人类健康构成威胁，因为它含有可导致细胞毒性、坏死和溶血作用的毒素混合物。本研究评估了三齿蠹的叶子和花以及栎树皮中的甲醇和丙酮提取物作为体外v Co 毒性作用的潜在抑制剂。对植物提取物的总酚、类黄酮和单宁含量进行量化，以抑制两种细胞培养模型（人淋巴细胞和猪主动脉内皮 (PAE) 细胞）中的 v Co细胞毒性。来自Q. virginiana的提取物显示出更高浓度的总酚、类黄酮和单宁。淋巴细胞和 PAE 细胞与固定浓度的 v Co和植物提取物共同孵育导致 v Co诱导的细胞毒性降低。淋巴细胞与 v Co (2.36 ± 0.17 µg/mL) 和 0.5 µg/mL 来自三齿虎 (LLM)的甲醇叶提取物共同孵育 24 小时，可将毒液诱导的细胞毒性显着抑制 37.33 ± 8.33%。同样，LLM 提取物 (4 µg/mL)在 PAE 细胞中 24 小时后导致 v Co细胞毒性显着降低。相比之下，Q. virginiana树皮 (QA) 的丙酮提取物将细胞毒性抑制了 29.20 ± 3.51% ( p < 0.001) 在淋巴细胞中，它未能在 24 小时后保护 PAE 细胞免受 v Co的影响。在 PAE 细胞中，较短的 4 小时共孵育显示出两种提取物对细胞毒性的显着抑制。我们的研究结果共同表明，LLM 和 QA 具有针对v Co的体外毒性作用的细胞保护特性，因此将这些植物的提取物确立为针对Crotalus毒液的潜在治疗干预。