Protective effect of taurine on cardiotoxicity of the bufadienolides derived from toad (Bufo bufo gargarizans Canto) venom in guinea-pigs in vivo and in vitro.

In China, toad venom is an anti-inflammatory agent used in small doses for the treatment of various types of inflammation. Bufadienolides are cardioactive steroids responsible for the anti-inflammatory actions of toad venom. We studied the protective effect of taurine on the cardiotoxicity of bufadienolides in guinea-pigs.

Bilirubin attenuates bufadienolide-induced ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac dysfunction in guinea-pigs by reducing elevated intracellular Na(+) levels.

Bufadienolides, known ligands of the sodium pump, have been shown to inhibit the proliferation of several cancer cell types. However, their development to date as anticancer agents has been impaired by a narrow therapeutic margin resulting from their potential to induce cardiotoxicity. In the present study, we examined the effects of bilirubin, an endogenous antioxidant, on the cardiotoxicity of bufadienolides (derived from toad venom) in guinea-pigs.

[Cell continuous extraction-HPLC determination biological affinity of 8 bufadienolides on MGC-803 cells and their correlation with anti-tumor activities].

Objective: To study the bioaffinity between 8 bufadienolides(Bu) and tumor cells and analyze the correlation between the bioaffinity and the anti-tumor activities of Bu.

Method: Mix and cultivate the chloroform extract of Chansu and MGC-803. Measure the content of 8 Bu in supernatant and cells using HPLC and calculate their affinity rate.

The novel antidote Bezoar Bovis prevents the cardiotoxicity of Toad (Bufo bufo gargarizans Canto) Venom in mice.

Toad Venom, called chansu (CS) in China, is an anti-inflammatory drug used in small doses for the treatment of various types of inflammation in China. Its use is hampered by the cardiotoxicity of bufadienolides derived from Toad Venom. Bezoar Bovis is another frequently used drug in Toad Venom preparations for the treatment of inflammatory or cardiovascular diseases in Asia.