Biological and biochemical properties of Scatophagus argus venom

Stingrays from the Potamotrygon cf. henlei species are widely distributed in high numbers throughout the rivers of central-west Brazil, being the source of numerous envenomations occurring in the dry season, posing a serious public health problem even if not properly reported. The accidents usually involve fishermen and bathers, and to date there is no effective treatment for the injured. Considering these facts and limitations of studies aiming at understanding the effects induced by P. cf. henlei envenoming, this study aimed to describe the principal pharmacological and certain biochemical properties of the mucus and sting venom. We found that mucus and sting venom is toxic to mice having nociceptive, edematogenic and proteolysis activities. Our results also indicate that the inflammatory cellular influx observed could be triggered by the venom and mucus. Furthermore the venom and mucus were partially purified by solid-phase extraction tested for antimicrobial activity in which only the mucus presented activity. It could be inferred from the present study that P. cf. henlei venom possesses a diverse mixture of peptides, enzymes and pharmacologically active components.

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“…orbignyi, and Scatophagus. argus venom [14,59,60]. Mild proteolytic activity has been observed in bullrout, Notesthes robusta, venom [61].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studies on pharmacological properties of mucus and sting venom of Potamotrygon cf. henlei

Monteiro-dos-Santos

Conceição

Seibert

et al. 2011

International Immunopharmacology

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“…Their population live in a fresh water environment in larval stages, but as they mature they move to salt water ecosystems. Since they do not live in temperate waters, they require at least a little warmth (21-28°C) (Gisha Sivan et al 2007). They live in harbors, natural embayment, estuaries, mangroves, and lower parts of freshwater streams.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metallothionein biosynthesis as a detoxification mechanism in mercury exposure in fish, spotted scat (Scatophagus argus)

Sinaie

Bastami

Ghorbanpour

et al. 2010

Fish Physiol Biochem

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It is of crucial importance to study on the biomarkers types to assess the specification of the pollutants and health status of marine ecosystems in environmental evaluation projects. In this respect, total metallothionein biosynthesis and mercury bioaccumulation in the liver and gills under acute mercury exposure were investigated in fish, Scat (Scatophagus argus). Spotted scat was exposed to different mercury concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30) for 24, 48, 72 h. Total MT levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Mercury contents were determined through cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Induction of MT during exposure was tissue specific, displaying different response pattern in gills and liver. Mercury accumulated in liver much higher than in gills and the latter also showed lower MT level (P<0.05). MT biosynthesis in liver showed a significant (P<0.05) increase after exposure to different mercury concentration with increase in exposure time, whereas total MT content did not significantly (P>0.05) change in gills except for 72 h exposure at 30 μg l(-1). Nonetheless, the relationship between MT biosynthesis and Mercury bioaccumulation in both tissues was significant (P<0.05). The results suggest that this form of MT in S. argus was Hg inducible and could be extended as a biomarker of mercury pollution in marine ecosystems.

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“…The crude venom extract of greater weeverfish, Trachinus draco, has a minimum lethal dose of 1.8 mg/g mouse (Chhatwal and Dreyer1992a). The scat, Scatophagus argus, has an inra‐peritoneal LD 50 of 9.8 mg/kg body weight (Sivan et al. 2007).…”

Section: Bioactivity Of Piscine Venomsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The oedematogenic response observed for S. argus venom in mice footpad was persistent even after 24 h and the oedema formed was intense suggesting the potentiality of S. argus venom in producing oedematic activity. The role of histamines released from mast cells causing vasodilation and increasing vascular permeability is ruled out as pheneramine maleate, an antihistamine, was unable to block or reduce the oedematic activity (Sivan et al. 2007).…”

Section: Bioactivity Of Piscine Venomsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fish venom: pharmacological features and biological significance

Sivan¹

2009

Fish and Fisheries

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Nearly 1200 species of marine fish are venomous and they account for two‐third of the population of venomous vertebrates. Fish venoms are focused as a potential source of pharmacological agents and physiological tools that have evolved to target vital processes in the human body that appear to have more electivity than many drugs. Fish venoms possess cardiovascular, neuromuscular, oedematic and cytolytic activity. Lethal toxins have been isolated and purified, with some having LD50 values comparable to that of snake venoms. Cardiovascular activity seems to be the dominant effect of fish venoms in experimental models. Piscine venom acts both pre‐ and post‐junctionally to produce depolarization of cell membranes. Studies on cytolytic activity of fish venom found that it produces lysis by forming hydrophilic pores in cell membranes which then result in cell lysis. Almost all fish venoms with neuromuscular activity also possesses cytolytic activity, and it is very likely that the two activities are related. Fish venom is known to induce intense and sustained edematogenic response. As piscine venoms have evolved for the same purpose, they show a number of similarities pharmacologically and it seems likely that most of the biological activities of any given toxin can be traced back to its cytolytic activity. A variety of toxins have been isolated from piscine venom. Although there is a complex balance between the components present in the venom of different fish, all of them seem to share similar activity – functionally and pharmacologically as well as structurally.

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Biological and biochemical properties of Scatophagus argus venom

Cited by 23 publications

References 34 publications

Studies on pharmacological properties of mucus and sting venom of Potamotrygon cf. henlei

Studies on pharmacological properties of mucus and sting venom of Potamotrygon cf. henlei

Metallothionein biosynthesis as a detoxification mechanism in mercury exposure in fish, spotted scat (Scatophagus argus)

Fish venom: pharmacological features and biological significance

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