5 Medical Reliefs from Snake Venoms
5 Medical Reliefs from Snake Venoms
As the emerging demands of human diseases require new classes of drugs, science through applied biology having biotechnology as a field had been compelled to address the need by utilizing every promising solution available to come up with the appropriate cure. Venomous snakes were among the dreaded cause of many human fatalities in the wild but contrary to this speculation; the same venoms from certain snakes which brought deaths to many had been modified in the laboratory to treat common illnesses like hypertension and heart related ailments thereby saving lives. Most of us may not have been bitten by any venomous snake before but check if you had been indirectly bitten by the aid of your doctor for prescribing to you drugs derived from venoms without your knowing. Here are 5 of those dreaded snakes and the drugs derived from their venoms.
1. African Saw Scaled Viper (Echis carinatus ) – This species of snake could be found in Africa, Middle East, India and Sri Lanka. Average lengths for adults reach nearly 3 feet (35 in), a considerably small size to worry about but beware. This type of snakes is noted to be quick tempered and combined with potent hemotoxic venom, makes a lethal bite if untreated in time. They gained the name through the distinguishing feature of coiling and bringing certain sections of its body near and rubbing it together producing a “sizzling sound” when the rough scales were brought in contact. Tirofiban is an antiplatelet derived from the modified venom of African saw scaled viper which is basically used to treat blod clots like in the onset of strokes and thrombotic disorders.
2. Southeastern Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri )– This venomous pitviper subspecies can be found in Southeastern United States and adults has an average length of 2-3 feet. Common names are southeastern ground rattlesnake, Florida ground rattlesnake, pigmy rattlesnake, hog nosed rattler and small rattlesnake. Bites from this snake could result in severe pain and swelling but no deaths from bitten victims had been reported. Eptifibatide is another antiplatelet drug derived from venoms of this snake utilized to treat patients with unstable angina and those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
3. Brazilian Pit Viper (Bothrops jararaca )- Endemic to southern Brazil, northern Argentina and Paraguay, this pit viper species had been known with such common names as yararaca and yararaca perezosa in Argentina, caissaca, jararaca, jararaca-do-campo and jararaca-dominhoca in Brazil and yarara in Paraguay. Snake size of adults reach a maximum of 5.2 feet (62.9 in) with preferred habitation in farmlands (like banana plantation in Brazil), tropical forests, savannah country and semi-tropical upland forests. This snake had been responsible for 52% (3,446 cases) of snake bites in Brazil resulting to 25 deaths between 1902 to 1945. The venom from this snake although quite toxic had been modified as a source of peptide responsible for the development of a class of ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor drugs. Marketed under the brand name Lisinopril, this ACE inhibitor drug is presently used in the treatment of hypertension, congestive heart failure, and certain renal complications from diabetes.
4. Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma ) – A venomous snake species endemic to Southeast Asia like Thailand, northern west Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and the Indonesian island of Java, they are noted to reach average lengths of 2.5 to 3 feet. Also noted for being bad tempered and quick to strike, this pit viper species prefer to stay at a particular place for a length of time thus it is possible for a second victim to be bitten in the same spot hours after it has bitten its first victim. Ancrod (current brand name Viprinex) is a defibrinogenating agent modified from the venom of the Malayan pit viper utilized to treat cases of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary hypertension of embolic origin and moderate to severe chronic circulatory disorders of peripheral arteries. At present, this drug is still undergoing clinical trials prior to be released on the market although under the brand name Arwin ancrod had been commercially released in Germany and Austria for decades prior to its withdrawal from the market in the 80s.
5. Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) – Another venomous snake from the pit viper family and could be found in 28 states of the US and as far as Chihuahua and Coahuila in Mexico, it was known for such common names as copperhead, chunk head, death adder, highland moccasin, American copperhead, red snake, pilot snake, white oak snake and cantil cobrizo in Spanish among others. Average size of adult vipers of this type reach 2 to 3.3 feet with relatively stout body and a broad head distinct from the neck which is slightly tapered giving it the agility to strike its victim as an ambush predator. Generally non-agressive, bites from this snake is hardly fatal and its venom is among the lowest in pit vipers as tested on mice. Contortrostatin is a protein found in the venom of southern copperheads and was initially discovered to stop the growth of cancer cells and halt the spread of tumors from the affected parts. Laboratory studies show promising results but it may still take time before a practical drug could be released for public use in the market to the relief of cancer patients.
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