Medicinal potentials of snake venom components: A review

Over the last several decades, research on snake venom toxins has provided not only new tools to decipher molecular details of various physiological processes, but also inspiration to design and develop a number of therapeutic agents. Snake venom, though greatly feared, is a natural biological resource, containing several active compounds that have been employed in the development of new drugs to treat diseases. Snake venom is highly modified saliva containing more than 20 different compounds with toxic and lethal properties, mostly proteins and polypeptides which facilitate the immobilization and digestion of prey, and defends against threats. Some of the proteins in snake venom have very specific effects on various biological functions including blood coagulation, blood pressure regulation, and transmission of the nervous or muscular impulse, and have been developed for use as pharmacological or diagnostic tools. Phospholipases A2 hydrolyze phospholipids and thus could act on bacterial cell surfaces, providing novel antimicrobial (antibiotic) activities. Snake venom metalloproteinases, L-amino acid oxidases, and phospholipase A2 are paving new ways in oncology treatment. Agkistrodon acutus toxin (ACTX-6) demonstrated cytotoxic activity to various cancer cells in vitro. Bradykinin potentiating peptide (BPP9) (inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme), isolated from the Bothrops jararaca snake venom, is in use for the production of Captopril, a potent antihypertensive drug and thus aids in prevention of cardiovascular disorders including stroke and heart attack. A novel analgesic toxin (hannalgesin) from the venom of king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) has been shown to have far stronger analgesic effect than morphine. An interesting neurotoxic peptide with analgesic properties was isolated from king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venom and is called hannalgesin