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MITS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

MEDICINAL USES OF SNAKE VENOM

Presented by

Sai Krishnaja Sravanthi Paruchuri

CONTENTS1. Definition of venom2. Venom extraction process3. Composition of snake venom4. Types of Venom5. Therapeutic Uses of Neurotoxins6. Therapeutic Uses of Hemotoxins7. Therapeutic Uses of Cytotoxins8. Adverse Effects9. Conclusion10. References

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What is Venom?

Venom is nothing but a secretion of venomous animals, which are synthesized in a specific part of their body, called Venom gland.

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How to extract snake venom?

Venom extraction process

Hold the snake around its neck using four fingers, with the thumb infront.

Place pressure on the hand while moving it upward and downward. This will make the snake aggressive. He will open his mouth, expose his fangs and start spitting.

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That venom is collected in a container and is quickly freeze-dried to preserve its biological properties.

The process of extracting venom is called “Milking”.

Venom Freeze-dried venom

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Composition Of Snake Venom

EnzymesPhospholipase A2 Phosphodiesterase PhosphomonoesterasesL-amino acid oxidase ProteinsDisintegrinAncrod

Organic compounds

Citrate

Nucleosides

Acetyl choline

Peptides Bradykinin –Potentiating Peptides (BPP)

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Venom

NeurotoxinsEg. Cobra

HemotoxinsEg. Russel’s viper

CytotoxinsEg. Rattle snakes

Types of Venom

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Therapeutic Uses of Neurotoxins

• China uses cobra venom to treat opium addiction, liver, lung, esophageal and skin cancers as well as leukemia and arthritis.

• India uses Cobra venom as a hepatic stimulant and to revive collapsed patients.

• Neurotoxins target the central nervous system. They stop muscles from working.

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Cobra venom; A powerful painkiller that works as well as morphine but without the side effects.

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• Cobra venom is safe and non-addictive way to treat pain , When compared to opiates.

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• cobra venom has the potential to slow down the degeneration of joints as in Rheumatoid Arthritis. It also reportedly has anti-depressive activity.

• At Recepto pharm researchers are also currently doing research on Herpes, HIV/AIDS and Multiple Sclerosis using cobra venom and its constituents.

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Cobra’s venom is used to treat …

Back pains Menstrual pains

Headaches Arthritis

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Cobroxin topical gelCobroxin oral sprayNyloxin topical gel

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Therapeutic Uses of Hemotoxins

• Hemotoxins target the circulatory system. These contain anti-clotting activity.

• The protein ‘Ancrod’ which is present in hemotoxins prevent clotting compounds from functioning correctly, which causes uncontrollable bleeding.

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In Heart attacks:

• Ancrod seems able to dissolve the blood clots that cause stroke for as long as 6 hours after stroke symptoms start. Ancrod can also prevent new blood clots from forming.

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Eptifibatide Tirofiban

• Both of these medicines are used as a treatment for minor heart attacks and severe chest pain.

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In Hypertension• Peptides in snake venoms have the potency to prevent a compound called angiotensin – converting enzyme (ACE).

• Captopril which is derived from snake venom was the first orally active ACE inhibitory antihypertensive.

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Therapeutic Uses of Cytotoxins

Cytotoxity Inhibition of

– platelet aggregation– Cardiac arrest– Hemolysis

Cytotoxic refers to a substance or process which results in cell damage or cell death. Cytotoxins exhibit various physiological effects as

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In cancer treatment... Cytotoxic effects of snake venom have

potential to degrade/destroy tumor cells. These may treat

Breast cancerOvarian cancer

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• According to recent study, snake venom extracted from Walterinessia aegyptia alone or in combination with silica nano-particles can decrease the proliferation of human breast carcinoma cell line.

• The snake venom toxin from Vipera lebentina turnica induces

apoptotic cell death of ovarian cancer cells.

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• According to a news published in a journal (Popular science), an Irish company is using American rattle snake venom to test its anti-cancer potential. They isolated a protein called “Disintegrin” from rattle snake venom that causes malignant cancer cell to commit suicide. This company has developed a venom-derived drug called CB24 and started testing it on humans in October’11.

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What are Disintegrins?• Disintegrins are nonenzymatic proteins that inhibit cell-cell

interactions, cell matrix interactions, and may have potential in the treatment of cancer.

• The disintegrin protein in snake venom, when injected into cancer cells, binds the outside of the cell via these integrin receptors and doesn't allow the cell to communicate with surrounding cells.

Disintegrins

Integrin receptor

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Adverse Effects Headaches Stomach upset Allergic reactions

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Conclusion

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References An Interview with Paul F. Reid, PhD. Co-founder and the CEO of

ReceptoPharm, a Nutra Pharma drug discovery company. Biologybiozine.com/making-medicine-from-snake-venom/2081. www.pharmainfo.net/.../snake-venom-protein-a-wonderful-

medicine-in-... www.snakes-uncovered.com/Cytotoxic_Venom.html

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Thank You..!