Venom Applications
Major venom components and their functions:
- Biomedicine
- Therapeutic agents
- Summary table
| Type of compound | Action on the body | Family/Species |
|---|---|---|
| Acetylcholinesterases (AChE) | Might cause tetanic paralysis | Colubridae, Elapidae |
| Arginine esterases | Predigest prey | Viperidae |
| Bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPP) | Pain, hypotension, immobilize prey | Viperidae |
| C-type lectins | Modulate platelet activity, prevent clotting | Viperidae |
| Cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRiSP) | Induce hypothermia, immobilize prey | Colubridae, Elapidae, Viperidae |
| Disintegrins | Inhibit platelet activity, promote hemorrhaging | Viperidae |
| Hyaluronidases | Increase interstitial fluidity, aiding the dissemination of venom from the bite site | Elapidae, Viperidae |
| L-amino acid oxidases (LAAO) | Cell damage/apoptosis | Elapidae, Viperidae |
| Metalloproteinases (MPr) | Hemorrhage, myonecrosis, believed to predigest prey | Atractaspididae, Colubridae, Elapidae, Viperidae |
| Myotoxins | Myonecrosis, analgesia, immobilize prey | Viperidae |
| Nerve growth factors | Might cause cell apoptosis | Elapidae, Viperidae |
| Phosphodiesterases (PDE) | Might cause hypotension, shock | Colubridae, Elapidae, Viperidae |
| PhospholipaseA2 (PLA2) | Myotoxicity, myonecrosis, damage to cell membranes | Colubridae, Elapidae, Viperidae |
| PLA2-based presynaptic neurotoxins | Immobilize prey | Elapidae, Viperidae |
| Prothrombin activators | Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC: small clots form throughout body, leading to uncontrolled bleeding), which can be fatal | Elapidae |
| Purines and pyrimidines | Might cause hypotension, paralysis, apoptosis, necrosis, immobilization of prey | Elapidae, Viperidae |
| Sarafotoxins | Myocardial ischemia (reduced blood flow to heart), increase blood pressure, disturb heart rhythm | Atractaspididae |
| Serine proteases | Hemostasis disruption, hypotension, immobilize prey | Colubridae, Viperidae |
| Three-finger toxins (3FTx) | Rapid immobilization of prey, paralysis, death | Colubridae, Elapidae |