Alfonso Zavaleta

Evaluation of the wound-healing activity of selected traditional medicinal plants from Perú

Folk medicine practitioners in Perú employ plant preparations as wound-healing agents on superficial and internal wounds (gastric ulcers). The results of a scientific evaluation of the wound-healing activity of nine plants found in the Amazon jungle near Iquitos and in the Andes mountains is presented. The species studied were: Peperomia galioides, Mentzelia cordifolia, Mutisia acuminata, Himatanthus sucuuba, Spondias mombin, Eleutherine bulbosa, Muehlenbeckia tamnifolia, Anredera diffusa and Jatropha curcas. These plants have also been examined for their toxicological properties, their effect on blood pressure, smooth muscle and capillary permeability. Significant wound-healing activity was detected in Peperomia galioides, Anredera diffusa and Jatropha curcas. Extracts from Peperomia galioides and Anredera diffusa had no effect on cell proliferation and did not exhibit mutagenic activity.

Venomic Analysis of the Poorly Studied Desert Coral Snake, Micrurus tschudii tschudii, Supports the 3FTx/PLA2 Dichotomy across Micrurus Venoms

The venom proteome of the poorly studied desert coral snake Micrurus tschudii tschudii was unveiled using a venomic approach, which identified ≥38 proteins belonging to only four snake venom protein families. The three-finger toxins (3FTxs) constitute, both in number of isoforms (~30) and total abundance (93.6% of the venom proteome), the major protein family of the desert coral snake venom. Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s; seven isoforms, 4.1% of the venom proteome), 1–3 Kunitz-type proteins (1.6%), and 1–2 l-amino acid oxidases (LAO, 0.7%) complete the toxin arsenal of M. t. tschudii. Our results add to the growing evidence that the occurrence of two divergent venom phenotypes, i.e., 3FTx- and PLA2-predominant venom proteomes, may constitute a general trend across the cladogenesis of Micrurus. The occurrence of a similar pattern of venom phenotypic variability among true sea snake (Hydrophiinae) venoms suggests that the 3FTx/PLA2 dichotomy may be widely distributed among Elapidae venoms.

Pharmacological effects of a Peruvian scorpion (Hadruroides lunatus) venom.

Hadruroides lunatus venom has a low lethality in mice (ld50, 68 mg/kg i.p.) and in dogs induces a fall in blood pressure which is prevented by an antihistaminic. The venom liberates acetylcholine and potentiates acetylcholine and serotonin actions in the rat ileum. It does not affect rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm nor toad rectus abdominis isolated preparations, but increases basal tone of the isolated atrium of the rat.

Efectos de la liofilización sobre cuatro actividades biológicas del veneno de Bothrops atrox (Serpentes:Viperidae)

Inflorescences of Baclris gasipaes (a moooecioos neolropica1 pahn) present a strong prezigotic resource allocation toward masculinity on the inflorescence. Male reproductive effort (ERM. biomass) was 0.82 ± 0.11 g male flowers / g inflorescence. A high conelatioo between me total inflorescence biomass with female reproductive effort (ERF) (r= 0.76), indicates that plants wim bigger inflorescences allocate more resources to ihe female functioos. The pistillate flowers are situated preferentially in me inner pans of rachillas. Early ideas about evolution of protoginy, resource allocation and plant sexual systems are supported by these data.

Preliminary studies of the effects of a Peruvian snake Bothrops pictus (jergon of the coast) venom upon fibrinogen

Bothrops pictus (jergon of the coast) venom has a coagulant effect in vitro on both canine fibrinogen and on human and canine plasma, with a greater affinity for canine plasma. In vivo a single dose of venom produced partial defibrinogenation in conscious dogs, plasma fibrinogen being reduced to about 60% of control values after 6 hr.