Vol. 18 No. 5 November 1998

By Bruce Barwell

The article about experiences with treating sarcoma, by Arthur Grimmer, in the last issue was remembered on reading recent reports of scientific investigation into the potential of snake venom as medicines.

Particularly interesting is the possible value of venom in the treatment of melanoma. Here are summaries of these discoveries:

• Some snake venoms contain a class of proteins called disintegrins which prevent platelets clumping together. Within that group of disintegrins is eristostatin (from an Afghani viper) which has been shown to block the spread of induced tumours in mice, especially melanoma-like malignancies. Eristostatin’s effect on human melanoma is described in Experimental Cell Research 1998 Jan 10; 238 (1): 188-196.

• The rattlesnake Crotalus atrox has in its venom a haemorrhagic factor, apoxin 1, which “kills” cells of human promyelocytic leukaemia HL-60 and human ovarian carcinoma A2780. Journal of Biological Chemistry 1997 Apr 4; 272 (14): 9539-9542.

• Contortrostatin, a disintegrin from Agkistrodon contortrix, is a potent inhibitor of human metastatic melanoma (M24met) cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins. Cancer Research 1994 Sep 15; 54 (18): 4993-4998.

• The power of bradykinin to contract smooth muscles is potentiated by peptides in the venom of Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus. Toxicon 1995 Oct; 33 (10): 1313-1319.

• Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus venom contains two fibrin dissolving enzymes, piscivorase I and II. Both were activated by calcium, magnesium and barium, but inhibited by zinc, copper and manganese. Toxicon 1995 Jul; 33 (7): 929-941.

New names for homoeopathic snakes
Toxicophis pugnax, water moccasin, is now Agkistrodon piscivorus..
Cenchris contortrix, copperhead, is now Agkistrodon contortrix.
Conventional medicine and venom

The idea for the class of blood-pressure-reducing drugs called ACE inhibitors (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors) was developed in the Squibb Corporation in the 1970s following the study of peptides in the venom of the Brazilian arrowhead viper, Bothrops jaracusa.

Dendrotoxins in mamba (Dendroaspis) venoms are being studied for possible use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy.

Merck filed a patent in 1995 for an immunosuppressant, margatoxin, isolated from the scorpion Centruroides margaritatus.

Some scorpion venom fractions block large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels and are being investigated as treatments for asthma with coughing and sneezing, and for chronic bronchitis.

Astute homoeopaths have long been aware of the therapeutic potential of venoms, sometimes anticipating these recent discoveries by the big firms.