Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 13, Issue 28, 2007

The snake venoms are the natural sources of many compounds that fascinated people through the history of pharmacology. Thus, the major part of logos of many national pharmaceutical organizations contains the image of a snake. Current drug design research considers venoms of many snakes as a valuable source for identification of new compounds with potential application in the pharmacology of many diseases. More Read More

Integrins α1β1 and α2β1 are highly expressed on the microvascular endothelial cells, and blocking of their adhesive properties significantly reduced the VEGF-driven neovascularization ratio and tumor growth in animal models. Hence, inhibitors of the α1β1 and α2β1 integrins, alone or in combination with antagonists of other integrins involved in angiogenesis (eg. αvβ3, αvβ5, and α6β4), may prove benefitial in the control Read More

Angiogenesis is the fundamental process by which new blood vessels are formed. Extensive research has shown that this event can be co-opted by tumors to ensure their growth, survival and metastasis. The study of tumor angiogenesis therefore represents a promising area of research for development of anti-cancer therapeutics. Integrins, a family of cell surface molecules, are a major target of interest as they are known t Read More

In studies of blood coagulation and the vascular system, snake venom toxins have been indispensable in elucidating the complex physiological mechanisms that govern coagulation and the vascular system in mammals, given their potency and highly specific biological effects. The various components of snake venom toxins can be classified according to their mechanism of action, for example, serine proteases, metalloprot Read More

Snake venoms are very complex mixtures of biologically active proteins and peptides that may affect hemostasis in many ways, by activating or inhibiting coagulant factors or platelets, or by disrupting endothelium. They have been classified into various families, including serine proteases, metalloproteinases, C-type lectins, disintegrins and phospholipases. The various members of a particular family act selectively on differe Read More

Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) are widely distributed in snake venoms and play important roles in hemostatic disorders and local tissue damage that follows snakebite. The impact of SVMPs on hemostasis has been extensively studied showing diverse effects both on soluble factors and cellular components. The action of SVMPs involves catalytic and anti-adhesive properties, as well as direct cellular activation and/or Read More

Snakes from several genera (mostly from Naja genus) belonging to the Elapidae family are usually named cobras. The effect of cobra bites is mainly neurotoxic. This is explained by the presence of highly potent α-neurotoxin in their venoms. The other two highly toxic components of cobra venoms are cytotoxins and phospholipases A2. These three types of toxins constitute a major part of cobra venom. They have attracted Read More

Cobra Venom Factor (CVF) is the complement-activating protein in cobra venom. CVF is a structural and functional analog of complement component C3. In serum, CVF forms a physicochemically stable and control-resistant C3/C5 convertase that continuously activates C3 and C5, ultimately leading to depletion of serum complement. As CVF can be safely administered to vertebrate animals, it has become an impor Read More

Poisons and the toxins found in venomous and poisonous organisms have been the focus of much research over the past 70 years, most of which has been directed at understanding the biochemical and physiological mechanisms by which they elicit their dramatic pathological consequences. Much knowledge has been gained in terms of how poisons and venoms and their composite toxins give rise to the syndromes associated Read More

The therapy of snakebite envenomation has been based on the parenteral administration of animal-derived antivenoms. Despite the success of this treatment at reducing the impact of snakebite mortality and morbidity, mostly due to their capacity to neutralize systemically- acting toxins, antivenoms are of relatively low efficacy in the prevention of venom-induced local tissue damage, which often leads to permanent disab Read More