Inhibitory effects of Piper umbellatum and Piper peltatum extracts towards myotoxic phospholipases A2 from Bothrops snake venoms: Isolation of 4-nerolidylcatechol as active principle

Piper umbellatum and Piper peltatum, plants utilized in traditional medicine, demonstrated moderate inhibitory ability towards enzymatic and toxic activities of purified phospholipase A2 myotoxins of Bothrops snake venoms. Two compounds were isolated: compound 1 (4-nerolidylcatechol) inhibited catalytic and toxic activities of these proteins; while compound 2, a newly described molecule, was not inhibitory.