Systemic toxic effects induced by the aqueous extract of the fire coral Millepora complanata and partial purification of thermostable neurotoxins with lethal effects in mice

García-Arredondo, Alejandro; Rojas‐Molina, Alejandra; Bah, Moustapha; Ibarra‐Alvarado, César; Gallegos‐Corona, Marco A.; García-Servín, Martín

doi:10.1016/j.cbpc.2014.12.004

Cited by 14 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…In a previous study, we found that the hemolytic activity of the aqueous extract of M. complanata significantly decreased after incubation with the PLA 2 inhibitor p -bromophenacyl bromide, and we detected a hemolysin with a molecular weight similar to that of milleporin-1, a PLA 2 isolated in the venom of M. platyphylla [ 32 ]. We also found that the aqueous extract of M. complanata has PLA 2 activity, but not protease activity [ 33 ] Accordingly, the results obtained in this study showed that the hemolysis produced by the aqueous extract of M. alcicornis was significantly inhibited, but not completely blocked by p -bromophenacyl and it does not contain proteases. These findings indicate that toxins with PLA 2 activity significantly contribute to the overall hemolysis induced by this hydrocoral extract.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…These differences might be attributed to environmental changes, since the specimens were collected in different zones and times, which results in variations in toxins production. Interestingly, important differences were found between the toxicity induced by the M. alcicornis aqueous extract and that provoked by the M. complanata extract [ 33 ], both species collected in the Mexican Caribbean. In our previous study, we observed that the aqueous extract of M. complanata induced two types of death in mice after its intravenous administration: at doses higher than the LD 50 (LD 50 = 4.62 μg protein/g) the extract produced violent convulsions and death within 1 min; however, lower doses induced a slow death similar to that provoked by the M. alcicornis extract.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cytolytic and systemic toxic effects induced by the aqueous extract of the fire coral Millepora alcicornis collected in the Mexican Caribbean and detection of two types of cytolisins

Hernández-Matehuala¹,

Rojas‐Molina

Vuelvas-Solórzano

et al. 2015

J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis

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BackgroundMillepora alcicornis is a branching hydrocoral common throughout the Caribbean Sea. Like other members of this genus, this species is capable of inducing skin eruptions and blisters with severe pain after contact. In the present study, we investigated the toxicity of the M. alcicornis aqueous extract on several animal models. Considering that some cnidarian hemolysins have been associated to local tissue damage, since they also induce lysis of other cell types, we also made a partial characterization of the hemolytic activity of M. alcicornis aqueous extract. This information is important for understanding the defense mechanisms of the “fire corals”.MethodsThe effects of pH, temperature, and some divalent cations on the hemolytic activity of the extract were assayed, followed by a zymogram analysis to detect the cytolysins and determine their approximate molecular weight. The toxicity of the aqueous extract was assayed in mice, by intravenous administration, and histopathological changes on several tissues were analyzed by light microscopy. The toxicity of the extract was also tested in Artemia salina nauplii, and the damages caused on the crustaceans were analyzed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy.ResultsThe hemolytic activity of the hydrocoral extract was enhanced in the presence of Ca2+ (≥2 mM), Mg2+ (≥6 mM), and Ba2+ (≥0.1 mM); however, it was reduced in the presence of Cu2+ (≥0.1 mM), Zn2+ (≥6 mM), and EDTA (≥0.34 mM). Differences in the pH did not affect the hemolytic activity, but it was temperature-sensitive, since preincubation at ≥ 50 °C sharply reduced hemolysis. The zymogram showed the presence of two types of hemolysins: ~ 28–30 kDa proteins with phospholipase A2 activity and ~ 200 kDa proteins that do not elicit enzymatic activity. The aqueous extract of this cnidarian was lethal to mice (LD50 = 17 μg protein/g), and induced kidney, liver, and lung damages. Under denaturing conditions, the aqueous extract completely lost its toxic and hemolytic activities.ConclusionsThe results showed that the M. alcicornis aqueous extract contains two types of thermolabile hemolysins: proteins of approximately 28–30 kDa with PLA2 activity, while the others are larger proteins of approximately 200 kDa, which do not possess PLA2 activity. Those thermolabile cytolysins, which are stable to pH changes and whose activity is calcium dependent, are capable of inducing damage in lung, kidney and liver tissues, resulting in a slow death of mice. M. alcicornis cytolysins also provoke tissue dissociation in Artemia salina nauplii that might be attributed to pore forming mechanisms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cytolytic and systemic toxic effects induced by the aqueous extract of the fire coral Millepora alcicornis collected in the Mexican Caribbean and detection of two types of cytolisins

Hernández-Matehuala¹,

Rojas‐Molina

Vuelvas-Solórzano

et al. 2015

J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis

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“…Out of the 66 marine natural products identified, 26 correspond to structures that were not previously reported. These 26 new chemical entities correspond to three aliphatic polyketides (1-3), one glycolipid (7), two diterpenes (15,16), two steroids (24,25), one triterpenoid saponin (40), and 17 conotoxins (49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65). Figure 15 displays the overall biogenetic distribution of the reported compounds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine Natural Products from the Yucatan Peninsula

et al. 2020

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Mexico is one of the three areas of the world with the greatest terrestrial and cultural biological diversity. The diversity of Mexican medicinal flora has been studied for a long time and several bioactive compounds have been isolated. The investigation of marine resources, and particularly the potential of Mexican marine resources, has not been intensively investigated, even though the Yucatan Peninsula occupies 17.4% of the total of the Mexican coast, with great biological diversity in its coasts and the ocean. There are very few studies on the chemistry of natural products from marine organisms that were collected along the coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula and most of them are limited to the evaluation of the biological activity of their organic extracts. The investigations carried out on marine species from the Yucatan Peninsula resulted in the identification of a wide structural variety of natural products that include polyketides, terpenoids, nitrogen compounds, and biopolymers with cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifouling, and neurotoxic activities. This review describes the literature of bioprospecting and the exploration of the natural product diversity of marine organisms from the coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula up to mid-2019.

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“…No liver damage was observed in this study. 28 Anaphylaxis due to diffusion of venom into the general circulation is rare 24 and should be managed with early recognition, rapid administration of epinephrine, removal of the inciting antigen, and prompt medical attention. Basic and advanced life support algorithms should be followed in the event of anaphylactic shock.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Millepora species (Fire Coral) Sting: A Case Report and Review of Recommended Management

Kropp

Parsley

Burnett

2018

Wilderness & Environmental Medicine

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Fire corals (Millepora spp) are the second most common reef-forming organisms and are frequently found in tropical and subtropical waters. Fire corals are not true corals but rather hydrozoans more closely related to jellyfish and sea nettles. Rigidly affixed to the reef and with a branching structure, each fire coral is a colony of numerous individual hydrozoans forming a collective symbiotic organism. It is common for divers to accidentally make contact with fire corals. Fire coral contact is characterized by the immediate onset of burning pain caused by venom discharge from numerous tiny nematocysts located externally on the creature. Treatment consists of saltwater irrigation of the wound, nematocyst removal, and supportive care of the associated symptoms of pain, dermatitis, and pruritus. Rarely, fire coral can cause systemic toxicity. We present a case report of a 30-y-old recreational diver who experienced a fire coral sting of her left anterior thigh and review the recommended prevention and management of fire coral stings.

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Systemic toxic effects induced by the aqueous extract of the fire coral Millepora complanata and partial purification of thermostable neurotoxins with lethal effects in mice

Cited by 14 publications

References 49 publications

Cytolytic and systemic toxic effects induced by the aqueous extract of the fire coral Millepora alcicornis collected in the Mexican Caribbean and detection of two types of cytolisins

Cytolytic and systemic toxic effects induced by the aqueous extract of the fire coral Millepora alcicornis collected in the Mexican Caribbean and detection of two types of cytolisins

Marine Natural Products from the Yucatan Peninsula

Millepora species (Fire Coral) Sting: A Case Report and Review of Recommended Management

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