Uso popular e atividades antiofídicas e repelente da planta medicinal (Erva tipi) petiveria Alliacea l. (Phytolaccaceae) frente ao veneno e a serpente bothrops moojeni

Abstract

The study of popular medicine involves different areas of knowledge and understanding about the habits and customs of communities, while allowing research on plant species and the practices used with it. In this line, this study did a survey about popular medicinal options used by professionals and users of Primary Care in Palmas-TO, and the results showed the low adherence in the use of these resources among participating prescribing professionals. Among users, it was found that there is evidence of consumption of medicinal plants in addition to popular knowledge of various options with antiophidic activity. One of the cited plants was the Petiveria alliacea L., popularly known as Tipi herb, or Guinea herb, or Amansa Senhor herb, indicated as having antiophidic and snake repellent activities. This plant became part of the study with the objective of scientifically demonstrating whether the popular findings could be proven in a controlled experimental environment. Thus, it was analyzed qualitatively and a phytochemical composition of its crude alcoholic extract was investigated, showing the presence of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and coumarins. In parallel, toxicity was assessed at doses of 300 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg orally administered in mice and no lethal or acute toxic effects were observed at these doses. The investigation of the antiophidic activity of the extract was performed via oral administration in mice, at a concentration of 1000 mg/kg, against a mixture of poisons extracted from Bothrops moojeni snakes from Cerrado Tocantinense. A chromatographic analysis of this mixture revealed the majority of proteins in the regions of disintegrins, phospholipase A2, serinoproteases, metalloproteases PI and PIII and type lecithin. The biological activity on the formation of edema in the paw of mice was clearly evidenced, whereas the activities on myotoxic and hemorrhagic effects and the coagulopathy triggered by the mixture of poisons, had no different effects from the control groups. In another unprecedented experimental protocol, the extract's repellent activity against the Bothrops moojeni snakes was investigated, which revealed that the extract's repellent effect on these snakes. The results prove that the popular findings on the antiophidic and repellent activity of Petiveria alliacea L., obtained from the survey on the way of using medicinal plants, have a favorable scientific basis and contribute to the valorization of popular knowledge about the plant. In addition, this study raises positive results about the biological activity of the plant from popular knowledge and adds value to the biodiversity of the Cerrado Tocantinense, valuing customs and sustainable socioenvironmental practices.