Abstract

Snakebites are a serious occupational problem affecting rural populations of tropical and sub-tropical, developing countries. Envenomation caused by the snakesBothrops jararacaandB. jararacussuis characterized by local pain, edema, hemorrhage, tissue necrosis, and death. Despite the fact that antivenom may prevent the death of bite victims, treatment does not prevent tissue necrosis, often leading to amputation or deformity of the victim's affected limb.Therefore, more efficient therapies need to be investigated. In this work, we tested the ability of a carrageenan galactan polysaccharide, isolated from a clonal strain of the red alga,Chondrus crispus(commonly known as Irish moss) to inhibit toxic, in vitro (coagulation, hemolytic and proteolytic) or in vivo (hemorrhagic, edematogenic, myotoxic and lethal) activities ofB. jararacaorB. jararacussuvenom. When the polysaccharide was mixed together with the venoms, inhibition of their toxic activities was achieved, but with different potencies. Moreover, inhibition of hemorrhage, edema, lethality, or myotoxicity was observed, even if the polysaccharide was injected before or after the injection of venoms, regardless of the route of administration (i.e., intravenous, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal). A gel formulation containing the polysaccharide ofC. crispusalso protected mice from hemorrhage after administration of the venoms. Thus, the lambda carrageenan polysaccharide, as produced by a strain ofC. crispus, may aid antivenom to block the toxic activities ofB. jararacaandB. jararacussuvenom, as well as to aid in the development of a more efficient therapy for envenomation by these venomous snakes.