Effects of Sodium Silicate Complex against Hemorrhagic Activities Induced by <i>Protobothrops mucrosquamatus</i> Venom

• Published in: Toxins
• Main Authors: Yen-Chia Chen, Tse-Yao Wang, Yu-Kai Huang, Kun-Che Chang, Min-Hui Chen, Chien-Chun Liu, Kuei-Lin Liu, Ya-Han Yang, David Hung-Tsang Yen, Ju-Sing Fan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Subjects: snake venom; snakebite; hemorrhage; <i>Protobothrops mucrosquamatus</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/1/59

<i>Protobothrops mucrosquamatus</i> poses a serious medical threat to humans in Southern and Southeastern Asia. Hemorrhage is one of the conspicuous toxicities related to the pathology of <i>P. mucrosquamatus</i> envenoming. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies showed that a silica-derived reagent, sodium silicate complex (SSC), was able to neutralize hemorrhagic and proteolytic activities induced by pit viper venoms, including <i>Crotalus atrox</i>, <i>Agkistrodon</i><i>contortrix contortrix</i> and <i>Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma</i>. In this study, we validated that SSC could neutralize enzymatic and toxic effects caused by the venom of <i>P. mucrosquamatus</i>. We found that SSC inhibited the hemolytic and proteolytic activities induced by <i>P. mucrosquamatus</i> venom in vitro. In addition, we demonstrated that SSC could block intradermal hemorrhage caused by <i>P. mucrosquamatus</i> venom in a mouse model. Finally, SSC could neutralize lethal effects of <i>P. mucrosquamatus</i> venom in the mice. Therefore, SSC is a candidate for further development as a potential onsite first-aid treatment for <i>P. mucrosquamatus</i> envenoming.