Inibição dos efeitos locais de venenos botrópicos com agentes antioxidantes na membrana corioalantóica de galinhas (HETCAM)

Abstract

Snakebites are often considered a neglected tropical disease. In Brazil, accidents occur mostly with animals of the genus Bothrops, presenting low lethality rates, but with high morbidity. The antiophidic serum acts by reducing lethality through the systemic neutralization of the venom, however its therapy has low efficiency in the local action of the venom. This study aimed to analyze the inhibitory effects of the antioxidants N-acetyl-cysteine and ascorbic acid on the venoms of Bothrops erythromelas and Bothrops jararacussu snakes through the assay method on the chorioallantoic membrane of chickens (HET-CAM). This test primarily allows assessing toxicity/irritation through scores for hemorrhage, coagulation, and vessel lysis, in addition to being possible for other applications such as angiogenesis and vasoactivity. The method was selected for the present work due to the previous mentioned characteristics, analyzing 12 sample groups: 1 positive control group with NaOH, 1 negative control group with PBS, 5 groups with B. jararacussu venom, of which 4 were added with antioxidants in concentrations of 1:1 and 1:10; the same was done with B. erythromelas. The results indicated a reduction in the irritation score in the groups treated with 1:1, being expanded with the increase to concentration 1:10; the two poisons reacted well with the compounds, however when exposed to higher concentrations of ascorbic acid (1:10) B.erythromelas venom showed total inhibition by HET-CAM standards, while B.jararacussu venom showed better results with N-acetylcysteine.