SNAKE VENOM-DERIVED PEPTIDES AS PROSPECTIVE PHARMACOLOGICAL TOOLS: RECENT TRENDS

Abstract

Small peptides from snake venom are studied as exceedingly selective, specific, effective and harmless therapeutics. This review article critically analyzes with numerous examples for the use of snake venom components as a potential therapeutic tool against various illnesses. The active components from numerous venoms are isolated, purified and used in assays to identify the specific therapeutic components that were categorized based on their biological goal and mechanism of action. This has paved the ways to use peptides from venom as therapeutic drugs. Peptide toxins are usually active orally, via subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous administrations. These peptides are targeting a wide range of membrane-bound protein channels and receptors. Peptides are recovered from the venom of diverse animals and most of these possess the possible prospects of safety after isolation and purification and venom-obtained peptides that can become practical drugs effectively, in future.