A REVIEW ON SNAKE VENOM: AN UNREVEALED MEDICINE FOR HUMAN AILMENTS: GREAT SCOPE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH

Abstract

Snake venom is the poisonous secretion (saliva), ejected from the poison apparatus of a poisonous snake, during the act of biting. Venoms of the different species of poisonous snakes are complex mixture of a number of proteins, toxic substances or toxins, peptides, enzymes, and non-protein inclusions in varying proportion. Snake venom is harmless if ingested in liquid or crystal form after drying through mouth and it will be excreted unchanged. It produces toxicity only if contacted with blood. This is very well understood by Ayurveda. Therapeutic uses of snake venom in various diseases have been explored by Acharya Vagbhata in 48th chapter of Uttartantra of Ashtanga Sangraha, i.e. "Vishopayogiya Adhyaya." Forty-seven different Formulations have been mentioned by Acharya vagbhata in which snake venom is pertinently used with other Ayurvedic herbal drugs. Since last two decades, various researches explore the therapeutic potential of snake venom in various diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, Neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, Cancer (various types), aging, skin diseases, excessive bleeding condition etc. Current review sums up the therapeutic use of snake venom which is mentioned in Ayurveda as well as in contemporary science which provide new thoughts in field of pharmaceutical research where the use of snake venom is beautifully understood by our ancient Acharyas.