Utilization of gallic acid to inhibit some toxic activities caused by Bothrops jararaca or B. jararacussu snake venoms

• Published in: Toxicon (Oxford) 2022-10, Vol.217, p.5-12
• Main Authors: Simas Pereira Junior, Luiz Carlos, Souza, Jenifer Frouche, Rodrigues da Silva, Ana Cláudia, Coriolano de Oliveira, Eduardo, Sanchez, Eladio Flores, Fuly, André Lopes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bothrops; Drug discovery; Gallic acid; Neutralization; Snake venom
• ISSN: 0041-0101; 1879-3150
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.07.009

Snake bite envenoming is a serious public health issue, affecting thousands of people worldwide every year, especially in rural communities of tropical and subtropical countries. Injection of venom into victims may cause hemorrhaging, blood coagulation imbalance, inflammation, pain, edema, muscle necrosis, and eventually, death. The official validated treatment recommended by governments is the administration of antivenom that efficiently prevents morbidity and mortality. However, this therapy does not effectively neutralize the local effects of Viperidae venoms which constitute one of the leading causes of disability or amputation of the affected limb. Thus, bioprospecting studies seeking for alternative therapies to complement antivenom should be encouraged, especially those investigating the blockage of local venomic toxicity. Plants produce a great diversity of metabolites with a wide range of pharmacological and biological properties. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the utilization of gallic acid, which is widely found in plants, against some toxic in vitro (coagulation, proteolytic, and hemolytic) or in vivo (edematogenic, hemorrhagic, and lethal) activities of Bothrops jararaca or B. jararacussu venom. Gallic acid was incubated with B. jararaca or B. jararacussu venom (incubation protocol), after which, in vitro or in vivo assays were performed. Additionally, a gel containing gallic acid was developed and topically applied over the skin of mice after injection of B. jararaca or B. jararacussu venom (treatment protocol), and then, a hemorrhagic assay was carried out. As a result, gallic acid inhibited the toxic activities, with variable efficacy, and the gallic acid gel neutralized B. jararaca or B. jararacussu venom-induced hemorrhagic activity. Gallic acid was devoid of in vitro toxicity as shown through a hemocompatibility test. Thus, these findings demonstrate the potential of gallic acid in the development of an alternative agent to treat victims of snake bites inflicted by Bothrops species. [Display omitted] •The potential of the gallic acid to inhibit Bothrops jararaca or Bothrops jararacussu toxic effects has been investigated.•The gallic acid is devoid of in vitro toxicity.•Gallic acid in solution or in gel form inhibited some toxic activities of Bothrops jararaca or Bothrops jararacussu venom.