Researchers from the Butantan Institute demonstrated that a substance present in fruits, vegetables and some types of wheat, called rutin, is capable of neutralizing the pit viper venom. Experts have identified that the water-soluble version of the substance could act as a complementary treatment for patients exposed to snake venom.
The measure would make it possible to alleviate symptoms until the patient receives the anti-bothropic serum, being useful especially in the context of places with difficult access to hospitals and health services.
The work coordinated by the director of the Pathophysiology Laboratory at Butantan, Marcelo Santoro, is part of the doctoral thesis of student Ana Teresa Azevedo Sachetto. The findings were published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.
Rutin belongs to the class of flavonoids, which are compounds known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
In the first stage of the study, published in 2018, the group demonstrated the protective capacity of rutin in animals against inflammation and bleeding caused by pit viper venom.
The next step was to find a water-soluble form of the substance that would allow for vein delivery. In this study, the researchers analyzed the chemically modified rutin with succinate, succinyl rutin.
With the compound in hand, the specialists at Butantan carried out the tests again in the laboratory and with the participation of animals in order to verify the effectiveness of the substance.
“We redid all the tests in vitro and in vivo with succinyl rutin and, to our surprise, in addition to maintaining the same characteristics of the rutin [atividade anti-inflamatória e anti-hemorrágica]it also inhibits venom proteins and clotting problems,” Marcelo said in a statement.
The anti-bothropic serum against pit viper venom produced by the Butantan Institute treats the main manifestations of envenomation, from the inhibition of proteins and the neutralization of the venom. However, the serum is not able to inhibit the inflammatory process initiated. According to the expert, rutin would enter as a complementary measure, with the aim of delaying the harmful effects of poisoning, such as inflammation and bleeding.
The next steps of the study include the analysis of the use of rutin together with the anti-bothropic serum and the possibility of applying the substance orally.
(With information from the Butantan Institute)
Source: CNN Brasil
