Public Release: 11-Oct-2018
A PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases press release
PLOS
Rutin, a flavonoid, may complement antivenom as an effective co-treatment for envenoming from Bothrops jaraca.
Researchers have found that rutin, an inexpensive, plant-based compound may protect envenomed mice from bleeding and inflammation problems, according to a study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases by Ana Teresa Azevedo Sachetto of Institute Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.
Anti-venom can effectively treat the major manifestations of snakebites, however, there are no known therapies effective for common secondary complications. Venom toxins from Bothrops jaraca (lance-headed vipers) may trigger bleeding, disrupt oxidation reduction in cells, and inhibit the body’s ability to stop bleeding. Researchers injected both venom and rutin into a group of mice, then analyzed blood and tissue samples to understand what effect(s) if any, the rutin had on pathophysiological events triggered by Bothrops jararaca venom.
The mechanisms of clinical complications in patients bitten by B. jaraca snakes are not well understood and antivenom therapy is limited in its ability to treat the full array of complications that may occur following a snakebite. Future studies will be necessary to understand rutin activity once venom has initiated pathophysiological events, as well the therapeutic effects of rutin delivered with antivenom. According to the authors, the research “indicates that rutin has a great potential as an ancillary drug in concert with antivenom therapy to treat snakebites, particularly in countries where antivenom availability is scarce.”
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Peer-reviewed / Observational Study / Mice
In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0006774
Citation: Sachetto ATA, Rosa JG, Santoro ML (2018) Rutin (quercetin-3-rutinoside) modulates the hemostatic disturbances and redox imbalance induced by Bothrops jararacasnake venom in mice. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 12(10): e0006774. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006774
Funding: This work was supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, grant # 2013/25177-0, http://www.fapesp.br), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, grant # 305245/2015-5, http://www.cnpq.br), and Fundação Butantan. ATAS and JGR are recipients of CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) fellowships.
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that no competing interests exist.