Caracterização físico-química e potencial antiofídico de nanopartículas de quitosana associadas ao ácido rosmarínico

Abstract

One of the tropical diseases neglected by the World Health Organization is the Ophidian accident. They are recognized as a public health problem that mainly affects the population in rural areas, who face economic vulnerability conditions. Most Ophidian accidents in Brazil are caused by snakes of the Viperidae family, of the Bothrops genus, commonly known as jararaca. Rosmarinic acid is a phenolic compound that has been presenting itself as effective in its antiophidic potential. In this context, this study sought to evaluate the in vitro activity of a chitosan nano-system associated with rosmarinic acid against the Bothrops brazili snake venom. A physical-chemical characterization was carried out, as well as the evaluations of the stability and efficiency of the rosmarinic acid’s incorporation. The chitosan nanoparticles were obtained through the ionic gelation method, with particles in the nanometer dimension between 110 and 210 nm, a zeta potential of approximately +30 mV, and a polydispersion index of approximately 0.400. The nanoparticles indicated an incorporation efficiency percentage and maintenance of its properties higher than 97%. In in vitro samples, the rosmarinic acid associated with chitosan nanoparticles was able to inhibit the activity of proteases and phospholipases of the Bothrops brazili snake’s venom. Analysis of the results reveals the maintenance of stability for seven weeks of the nanosystem using chitosan as a polymer associated with rosmarinic acid. It indicates its potential to inhibit toxins present in snake venoms.