Toxicon最新文献

{"title":"Alternative biological models for evaluation of the toxic, genotoxic and mutagenic potential of Ectatomma brunneum Smith venom","authors":"Bruno do Amaral Crispim ,&nbsp;Rafaella Caroline Bernardi ,&nbsp;Sabrina Rodrigues da Luz ,&nbsp;Hélina dos Santos Nascimento ,&nbsp;Fabiana Gomes da Silva Dantas ,&nbsp;Kelly Mari Pires de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Marina Stefanes Schibichewski ,&nbsp;Cláudia Andrea Lima Cardoso ,&nbsp;Alexeia Barufatti","doi":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The venom of <em>Ectatomma brunneum</em> is considered promising for drugs development. Therefore, it is important to evaluate its toxic potential and genetic instability using biological assays. To this end, toxicity assays were performed with <em>Artemia salina</em>, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity with <em>Allium cepa</em> and mutagenicity with Ames. The results indicated toxicity to <em>A. salina</em>, and no cytotoxic, genotoxic or mutagenic potential at concentrations equal to or lower than 500 μg/mL for the other tests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23289,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 108256"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143042256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of an ex vivo model to assess the impact of fumonisin B1 on swine intestinal morphology","authors":"Janine Alves Sarturi ,&nbsp;Cristina Tonial Simões ,&nbsp;Cristiane Rosa da Silva ,&nbsp;Isadora Fabris Laber ,&nbsp;Luara Medianeira de Lima Schlösser ,&nbsp;Luriane Medianeira Carossi Leal ,&nbsp;Guilherme Konradt ,&nbsp;Daniele Mariath Bassuino ,&nbsp;Carlos Augusto Mallmann","doi":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study was conducted to assess the effects of fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) on the jejunum of pigs using a novel <em>ex vivo</em> model conducted in parallel with an <em>in vivo</em> trial. For the <em>in vivo</em> model, twelve male 28 to 70-days-old pigs were subjected to two treatments of six animals each: the control group, fed a basal diet (BD), and the FB₁ group, fed the BD + 50 mg/kg FB₁. At 70 days, the animals were slaughtered and one jejunal sample was collected from each pig for further histopathological analyses. Other four male pigs from the <em>in vivo</em> control treatment were slaughtered at 70 days for the <em>ex vivo</em> model. Four jejunal explants were collected from each pig, totaling 16 intestinal explants, which were subjected to two treatments, with 8 explants each, using an Ussing Chamber (UC) system: the control group, subjected to buffer solution (BS), and the FB₁ group, subjected to BS + 50 mg/L FB₁. Samples from <em>in vivo</em> and <em>ex vivo</em> models were analyzed for histopathological parameters and subjective intestinal assessments. The FB₁ group presented lower (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) villi height than the control group in both <em>in vivo</em> and <em>ex vivo</em>. A decrease (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) in the villi number, crypt depth, enterocyte height and enterocyte nucleus size was also observed in the FB₁ group <em>ex vivo</em>, with a higher severity score of lymphatic vessels dilation than the control (<em>P</em> = 0.0459). The FB₁ group also tended to increase the goblet cells count (<em>P</em> = 0.0736) <em>ex vivo</em> as well as to decrease the crypt width (<em>P</em> = 0.0638) <em>in vivo.</em> The <em>ex vivo</em> model exhibited similar mean values and statistical responses to those observed <em>in vivo</em>, demonstrating its potential as an alternative approach for assessing the effects of mycotoxins in a reduced number of animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23289,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 108249"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142972282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deep, posterior muscles of the neck. A proposal for injection procedures","authors":"Alexandre Kreisler ,&nbsp;Matthias Herteleer","doi":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emergence of the col-cap concept in the 2010s led to a focus on previously neglected muscles, hoping to improve the benefit of botulinum toxin injections in patients with movements disorders of the head and neck. The deep posterior cervical muscles are part of this. They include sub-occipital muscles, the semi-spinalis cervicis muscle and even deeper muscles such as the multifidus. Injecting them requires the use of ultrasound.</div><div>This article will take up the anatomical notions necessary to perform these injections in an accurate and safe manner. We will also describe how to find these muscles using ultrasound.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23289,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 108271"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Botulinum toxin for essential tremor","authors":"Kartika Gulati,&nbsp;Sanjay Pandey","doi":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108273","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108273","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Essential tremor is one of the most common causes of action tremors, involving bilateral upper limbs, with or without tremor in other body regions such as the head, voice, or lower limbs. Pharmacotherapy is the first-line treatment for essential limb tremor; however, a significant number of patients fail to achieve adequate improvement with medical management. Therapeutic options, such as deep brain stimulation, lesioning surgeries, or magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound, are more invasive and carry inherent risks. Thus, botulinum toxin serves as an important alternative for managing medically resistant essential limb tremors and is considered clinically useful. Axial symptoms of essential tremor such as head or voice tremors rarely respond to medical management, making botulinum toxin a key therapeutic option in their management, despite safety concerns of weakness. This review aims to explore these considerations by examining existing literature on the application of botulinum toxin for essential limb, head, and voice tremors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23289,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 108273"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143123546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emerging therapeutic applications of scorpion venom peptides in the Middle East and North Africa: A comprehensive review","authors":"Ayoub Lafnoune ,&nbsp;Bouchra Darkaoui ,&nbsp;Asmaa Chbel ,&nbsp;Imane Nait Irahal","doi":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108270","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108270","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The predominantly arid and semi-arid climate, with high temperatures and vast desert areas in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, creates a favorable environment for scorpions, resulting in diversity of species of different genera. Animal venom, particularly scorpion venom, poses a health risk to victims who are envenomed. However, its abundance of bioactive protein molecules also makes it a promising source for new drug development. Numerous studies worldwide have revealed that venom-based molecules exhibit diverse therapeutic activities, including anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-hypertensive, immunomodulatory, and analgesic properties. Researchers from MENA region are also actively contributing to this global challenge. In this review, we will explore the abundance and diversity of scorpions in the MENA region and examine recent studies on the therapeutic activities of molecules extracted from their venom. Nonetheless, additional research is needed to address the challenges of developing effective natural drugs from scorpion venom.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23289,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 108270"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analytical quantification of the plant specific cardiac glycosides in biological fluids in a rare case of yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia) self-poisoning in Italy","authors":"Michele S. Milella ,&nbsp;Giada Della Grotta ,&nbsp;Nirinalisera Razafimpanana ,&nbsp;Cristiano Marinelli ,&nbsp;Fabiola Eugelio ,&nbsp;Federico Fanti ,&nbsp;Eleonora Oliva ,&nbsp;Manuel Sergi ,&nbsp;Francesco Pugliese ,&nbsp;Gioacchino Galardo ,&nbsp;Gabriella Vivino ,&nbsp;Daniele Caprioli","doi":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Yellow oleander contains digoxin-like cardiac glycosides that frequently cause intoxications in Sri Lanka and India. To date, though, no exposure has been analytically confirmed and quantitative determination of the plant specific glycosides in human biological fluids was never performed. We report an unusual case of self-poisoning in a young female in Italy who ingested 9 crushed seeds of <em>Cascabela thevetia</em> and was admitted to the emergency room with a 2nd degree atrio-ventricular block at the ECG. The case was managed with activated charcoal, repeated doses of anti-digoxin immune Fab and supportive care. A transient thrombocytopenia developed and resolved within a few days. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was used for the determination and quantification of thevetin A, thevetin B and peruvoside in plasma and urine. Thevetin A and thevetin B, two of the primary glycosides in the seeds, were not present in any of the samples, while detectable levels of the metabolite peruvoside were found in all biological samples on day 1 and 3. Digitoxigenin, the aglycone of thevetin B, was also identified using a semi-untargeted analysis. This is the first report of a quantitative determination of cardiac glycosides of yellow oleander in blood and urine. The finding may support very early administration of activated charcoal to possibly prevent further formation of secondary, and possibly more potent, glycosides and limit toxicity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23289,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 108268"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143075571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Capsaicin preferentially inhibits slow-inactivation sodium currents in insects","authors":"Masashi Kamezaki ,&nbsp;Hisashi Nishiwaki","doi":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108264","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108264","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Capsaicin, a pungent ingredient found in chili peppers, exhibits various pharmacological activities including inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in mammals, suppressing sodium currents. Although capsaicin shows insecticidal activity, its underlying mechanism of action on insect VGSCs remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the effects of capsaicin on insect nerve cords and VGSCs using neurophysiological techniques. Capsaicin injection immediately induced paralysis in American cockroaches (<em>Periplaneta americana</em>). Extracellular recordings of their nerve cords revealed that capsaicin inhibited the allethrin-induced excitation of nerve cord activity. Furthermore, in <em>Xenopus</em> oocytes expressing VGSCs of German cockroaches (<em>Blattella germanica</em>), capsaicin inhibited the steady-state activation of VGSCs, with an IC₅₀ value of 130.6 μM. Capsaicin significantly shifted the half-inactivation potential of the inactivation curve of insect VGSCs in a slow-inactivated state from −44.61 to −48.92 mV. Although the state dependency of sodium current inhibition by capsaicin remains unknown, based on its effective concentration, capsaicin may preferentially inhibit sodium currents by acting on insect VGSCs in a slow-inactivated state. This unique profile may serve as a foundation for the creation of novel insecticides based on capsaicin properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23289,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 108264"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143075574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Baicalein antagonises Rhopilema esculentum toxin-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by modulating ROS-MAPK-NF-κB and inhibiting PLA2 activity","authors":"Zengfa Wang ,&nbsp;Fengling Yang ,&nbsp;Yi Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Geng ,&nbsp;Jinyu Zhang ,&nbsp;Xinming Wang ,&nbsp;Chang Liu ,&nbsp;Blessing Danso ,&nbsp;Jingbo Chen ,&nbsp;Marina Pozzolini ,&nbsp;Xianpeng Zu ,&nbsp;Liang Xiao ,&nbsp;Jing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108266","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108266","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The toxicity of jellyfish <em>Rhopilema esculentum</em> (<em>R. esculentum</em>), an edible jellyfish that releases venom, has been controversial. The aim of this comprehensive study was to investigate the toxic effects of jellyfish tentacle extract (TE), which was evaluated <em>in vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em> using ICR mice and RAW264.7 cells respectively. A library of natural compounds was screened for their ability to antagonize phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) activity to identify potential protective agents and mechanisms. Of the 20 natural compounds evaluated, baicalein was found to have the strongest PLA₂ antagonistic and cytoprotective effects. <em>In vivo</em>, experiments showed that TE at a dose of 7.02 mg/kg only resulted in a 50% survival rate in mice. However, pretreatment with 30 mg/kg baicalein significantly increased the survival rate to 75%, while also attenuating TE-induced cardiac and hepatic injuries, and ameliorating TE-induced elevations in LDH, CK-MB, and AST levels. <em>In vitro</em> studies found that baicalein reduced cellular ROS and MDA levels, increased the expression of CAT, SOD, and GSH/GSSG to enhance cellular antioxidant defenses against TE-induced oxidative stress, and also inhibited TE-induced upregulation of <em>TNF-α</em>, <em>IL-6</em>, <em>IL-1β</em>, and <em>CXCL10</em>. Importantly, baicalein was found to modulate dysregulated MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways disrupted by TE. Taken together, these findings suggest that baicalein can antagonize <em>R. esculentum</em> toxin-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by modulating ROS/MAPK/NF-κB, which provides a viable therapeutic strategy to control the deleterious effects of jellyfish stings and associated inflammation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23289,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 108266"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143068218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does a diagnostic nerve block predict the outcome of botulinum toxin treatment? A narrative review","authors":"Thierry Deltombe ,&nbsp;Anthony B. Ward","doi":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.108226","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.108226","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Botulinum toxin type A is a first line choice in the treatment of spastic muscle overactivity. However, targeting the muscles involved in the deformity with the appropriate dose as well as choosing the goal to achieve and predicting the expected results can be challenging. Diagnostic nerve block with anaesthetics rapidly and temporarily suppresses overactivity of the selected muscle allowing clinicians to identify the involved muscles and the potential improvement of botulinum toxin injections. This narrative review summarizes the predictive value of the diagnostic nerve block before botulinum toxin injections. In the case of a stiff knee gait, rectus femoris blockade seems to predict knee flexion and gait speed improvement, which is subsequently obtained after rectus femoris botulinum toxin injections, but underestimates improvements in balance. In the case of spastic equinovarus foot, tibial nerve block provides a greater reduction in spasticity. Diagnostic nerve block assessment prior to botulinum toxin type A injections leads to an increase in the number of injected muscles, in the dose per muscle and in the overall cumulative dose. Finally, diagnostic nerve block may help to increase the goal achievement rate. Further well conducted studies are necessary.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23289,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 108226"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143011305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strychni Semen and two alkaloidal components cause apoptosis in HK-2 cells through TRADD-MAPK/NF-κB pathway","authors":"Wenyi Tian ,&nbsp;Yuling Li ,&nbsp;Fengzhi Liu ,&nbsp;Hui Liu ,&nbsp;Chen Li ,&nbsp;Lin Bao ,&nbsp;Xiaodong Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.108224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.108224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Strychni Semen is the dried ripe seeds of the plant <em>Strychnos nux-vomica L,</em> and has great medicinal value and developmental potential.However, Strychni Semen is severely toxic, with adverse effects on the central nervous system, urinary system, and other organ systems, and severe cases can be life-threatening. The present study was to reveal the mechanism of nephrotoxicity induced by Strychni Semen and its alkaloid components using experiments. HK-2 cells were randomly divided into control, experimental, and inhibitor groups. The experimental group was divided into Strychni Semen (SS, 10 mg/mL), brucine (B, 8 μg/mL) and strychnine (S, 4 μg/mL) groups,and the inhibitor group was treated with 1 μm/L Apostatin-1. To detect the effects of each group of drugs on the expression of inflammatory cytokines, KIM-1 and TRADD downstream pathway-related proteins. Network pharmacology predicted that nephrotoxicity caused by Strychni Semen may be related to MAPK. Cell experiments showed that Strychni Semen and its alkaloids could induce the activation of the JNK and p38 pathways in the NF-κB and MAPK pathways, upregulate the activation and expression of caspase-3, promote the apoptosis of HK-2 cells, and enhance the production of the cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α and KIM-1. Apostatin-1 antagonises the apoptosis of HK-2 cells induced by Strychni Semen and its alkaloids and reduces the production of the above-mentioned cytokines. The results showed that Strychni Semen and its alkaloids can induce apoptosis of HK-2 cells by activating TRADD-mediated MAPK and NF-κB pathways, showing cytotoxicity to HK-2 cells. Thus, inhibiting TRADD can reduce apoptosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23289,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 108224"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142972284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}