Protective effects of dipotassium glycyrrhizinate against snake venom muscle damage (LB633)

Myonecrosis is a serious consequence of Bothrops snake bites that may be due to destabilization and rupture of sarcolemma and organelles, inflammation, leading to permanent loss of muscle. Antivenom has been ineffective to neutralize this tissue damage and plant extracts have being studied as an associative therapy. In this research we analyzed the protective effect of Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate (DPG) against myotoxic effects of Bothrops jararacussu snake venom using in vivo experimental protocols. DPG, isolated from Glicirriza glabra, is an anti-inflammatory agent employed in treating dermatitis. The myotoxic process was followed in male Swiss mice gastrocnemius muscle at early (3 hours), intermediate (24 hours), late (3-7 days) and final (21 days) phases after intramuscular injection of B. jararacussu snake venom (100µg/µL), followed by 2% DPG injection 30 minutes later. Control muscles were injected with DPG only. Muscles sections (10µm) were processed for light microscopy and immunohistochemistry for...