Neutralización del efceto hemorrágico inducido por veneno Bothrops asper (Serpentes: Viperidae) por extractos de las plantas tropicales

Organic extracts representing 48 species included in 30 families of Costa Rican tropical plants were evaluated for their hability to neutralize hemorrhagic acfivity lnduced by the venom of the snake Bothrops aspero Abioassay in mice was used, based intra dermal injection of either venom or venom-extract mixtures followed by the measurement of hemorrhagic areas: Total inhibition of hemorrhage was observed with the ethanolic, cethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of Burcera simaruba, Clusia torresii, C. palmana, Croton draco, Persea americana, Phoebe brenesii, Pimenta dioica, Sapindus saponaria, Smifax cuculmeca and Virola koschnyi. Chemical analysis of these extracts identified catequines, flavones, anthocyanines and condensated tannins, which may be responsible for the inhibitory effect observed, probably owing to the chelation of the zinc required for the catalytic of venom's hemorrhagic matalloproteinases