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The extract of the jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata promotes neurotoxic effects
Author(s) -
Carneiro Raquel Felipe Vasconcelos,
Nascimento Nilberto Robson Falcão do,
Costa Paula Priscila Correia,
Gomes Victor Martins,
Souza Alex Jardelino Felizardo,
Oliveira Simone Cristina Buzzo,
Santos Diz Filho Eduardo Britto,
Zara Fernando José,
Fonteles Manassés Claudino,
Oliveira Toyama Daniela,
Toyama Marcos Hikari,
Santos Cláudia Ferreira
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.1620
Subject(s) - tetrodotoxin , veratridine , pharmacology , venom , depolarization , chemistry , saxitoxin , anesthesia , biology , endocrinology , medicine , sodium channel , toxin , sodium , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Phyllorhiza punctata ( P . punctata ) is a jellyfish native to the southwestern Pacific. Herewith we present the biochemical and pharmacological characterization of an extract of the tentacles of P . punctata . The tentacles were subjected to three freeze–thaw cycles, homogenized, ultrafiltered, precipitated, centrifuged and lyophilized to obtain a crude extract (PHY‐N). Paralytic shellfish poisoning compounds such as saxitoxin, gonyautoxin‐4, tetrodotoxin and brevetoxin‐2, as well as several secretory phospholipase A 2 were identified. PHY‐N was tested on autonomic and somatic neuromuscular preparations. In mouse vas deferens, PHY‐N induced phasic contractions that reached a peak of 234 ± 34.7% of control twitch height, which were blocked with either 100 μ m of phentolamine or 1 m m of lidocaine. In mouse corpora cavernosa, PHY‐N evoked a relaxation response, which was blocked with either L‐N G ‐Nitroarginine methyl ester (0.5 m m ) or 1 m m of lidocaine. PHY‐N (1, 3 and 10 μg ml −1 ) induced an increase in tonus of the biventer–cervicis neuromuscular preparation that was blocked with pre‐treatment of galamine (10 μ m ). Administration of 6 mg kg −1 PHY‐N intramuscularly produced death in broilers by spastic paralysis. In conclusion, PHY‐N induces nerve depolarization and nonspecifically increases neurotransmitter release. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.