Blessings of Poisonous Animals - Essay Example

?BLESSINGS OF POISONOUS ANIMALS: A CASE STUDY OF THE COBRA (Naja tripudians) This paper deals with application of cobra venom in medicine. Several drugs are made from cobra venom. These drugs are highly effective in curing a wide variety of diseases in human beings and diagnosing others. This paper explores processing techniques and present modes of venom usage. Moreover, other poisonous animals are also mentioned with reference to the type of venom they extract. Future prospects of research related to animal venom and toxins are also discussed in this paper. Introduction A lot of animals in this world are poisonous. Often they come in direct conflict with humans and become the cause of death and partial or total paralysis. This is the reason man has hated these animals for centuries. By making these animals useful, present advancement of science and technologies has changed this preconceived notion. Some of these animals are snakes, spiders, and scorpions. This paper reviews the benefits that are derived from venoms of these animals, the process of processing venom and the diseases they cure. Venom ejected by snakes can be broadly classified into four groups. These are neurotoxins, sitotoxins, hemotoxins and miotoxins. In the majority of cases, neurotoxic venom is related to the nervous system, hemotoxins is related to blood and vascular tissues and miotoxins is a combination of both neurotoxic and hemotoxic venoms. Cobra is one of those snakes whose venom is used for therapeutic purposes. Venom ejected by cobra can be classified as a neurotoxin, a compound that affects nervous systems of human beings. Reference to cobra venom can be traced to Chinese civilization and Vedas. During the early 1900’s cobra venom was largely used as a medicine to treat people with depression, back pain, headaches and menstrual pain (The Therapeutic Uses of Cobras’ Venom Neurotoxins, n.d.). Cobra’s venom is primarily composed of proteins and amino acids, collectively known as peptides. Larger quantities of proteins give cobra’s venom specific characteristics to bind receptors. This makes cobra’s venom an important drug in homeopathy to cure neurological diseases. “In homeopathy, the venom of cobra is used in diluted form, at low potencies. The venom becomes non- toxic, but yet retains its qualities”. The homeopathic physicians prescribe venom of Asian Cobra (Naja tripudians), but in practice, venom from all types of cobra from Middle East to Philippines is taken and processed (The Therapeutic Uses, n.d.). Medical use Since 1960, snakes venom has acquired an important place in medical treatment. The compounds present in snake venom affect muscle contraction by enhancement of the hormone Bradykinin. This hormone is responsible for dilatation the blood vessels. “The peptides present in venom transform angiotensin I into another peptide, angiotensin II, which also supports constriction”. When the Bradykinin as well as other peptides are blocked, the process of ‘blood vessel constriction’ no longer functions. Only the process of dilatation takes place. This makes snake venom an effective and alternative treatment for treating symptoms of hypertension. In spite of not being a medical drug, peptide present in snake venom contains numerous chemical features which make “it indispensible for heart attacks, neurological disorders, diseases related to blood”. Some drugs that are processed from venom of snakes are Lisinopril, Enalapril, Defibrase and Captopril. More extensive use of snake venom is utilized in treating problems related with blood cells. Snake venom has also helped in development of non- peptide compounds like Aggrastat by using ‘disintegrin’, which is a toxin present in the venoms of saw- scaled viper found in Africa. The compound functions by binding fibrinogen receptors present in blood onto platelets which is performed by disintegrin, thus performing the function of a coagulant. Some compounds in snake venom, like ‘Ancrod’ enzyme of Calloselasma rhodostoma also functions as anti- coagulants which are used by physicians to cure peripheral artery occlusive disease. Another compound ‘Defibrase’, more specifically Batroxobin ceases formation of thrombus in order to promote circulation of blood, “deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, peripheral vascular diseases, angina pectoris and acute ischaemic stroke” (Menez, 2005, p 139- 141). In the field of academic research too, snake venom has acquired an important place. Currently extensive research is carried on the concept of toxin- receptors. The result is formation of highly effective receptors like ‘acetylcholine’. Besides providing cure for numerous diseases, snake venom also contains certain compounds which are used for “diagnosing certain diseases, like ‘myasthenia gravis’, a disease which results in neuromuscular disorder” (Menez, 2005, p 141). However, snake venom is perhaps used most extensively in homeopathy, with an estimated amount of $200 million per year. It is estimated that out of 3000 types of remedies, more than 60 types of remedies have their origins in venom extracted by elapids or vipers. These are used for curing circulatory diseases and problems related to the heart and blood (Menez, 2005, p 141- 143). Snake venom is also used for treating cancer. This potential of snake venom was discovered during the latter half of twentieth century. Venom from cobras contains ‘cytotoxins’ and was reputed for producing effective results in treating adenocarcinoma. Also prepared drugs like cobroxin and nyloxin and analgesic properties that are found in cobra venom are presently used as an alternative for morphine. It acts by providing mental stimulation. Research has been conducted to trace the effects and make more precise use of cytotoxin for destruction of tumor cells. Nigexine is one such cytotoxic phospholipase which is widely used across the world (Menez, 2005, p 142- 143). Venom of cobra also offers relief in “arthritis, migraine, radium burns, angina pectoris, shringles, tic douleureux, locomotor ataxia, and often epilepsy” (Shelton, 1996, p 37). Figure 1: Diagram depicting presence of protein in some most commonly used snake venoms. Source: (Venom, 2011). Processing of snake venom Processing of venom obtained from cobra requires a lyophilized preparation. The most important ingredient for processing is Cobra Venom Factor (CVF). CVF is basically a glycoprotein which consists three interlinked chains of disulphide. The gamma chain is used for processing at C- terminus. The alpha and beta chain is consists of carbohydrates. The CVF responds by activating the complement system when it is mixed with human or any mammalian serum. CVF also contains enzymes like C3, C5, and Bb which display binding and cleaving activities. By numerous processes of chemical and genetic engineering venom extracted from different kinds of cobra’s all around the world are used in medicines for therapeutic purpose (Frontiers in Biophysics, Vol. 6, Volume 6, 2005, p 68). Anitivenom purification method The methods of purification of anti- venom includes removal of ‘Freund complete adjuvant’ fragment from Immunoglobulin G. Anti-venom protein aggregation is chiefly responsible for causing anti-venom reactions. Thus, the psycho-chemical characteristics of anti-venoms require customizing and controlling. During purification process, it is also ensured that those molecules which contain active substances are positively neutralized and that other measures for safety are taken to avoid any type of contamination and accident due to transmission of zoonosis (WHO, 2008, p. 7). Boon of other poisonous animals Among other animals whose venoms are extensively used by medical sciences, spiders, scorpions, Gila monster lizard, putter fish, short tailed shrew, etc. deserve special mention. All these animals had potentially posed threats for human beings for years. Recent studies and research works have proved their venoms to be blessings for human race. Medicines prepared from venoms of spiders are effective for curing proliferation of cancer cells of lungs, Alzheimer’s, heart fibrillation, erectile dysfunction, and heart stoke. The peptides present in spider- venom is also used for relieving pain. Both neurotoxic and hemotoxic types of compounds can be traced in spider- venom. Venom of black widow spider and brown spider are mostly used for this purpose. Both gila monster lizard and puffer fish eject neurotoxinc compounds in its venom. The venom ejected by scorpion functions both as neurotoxin, as well as hemotoxin, and is used for curing numerous diseases. The short tailed shrew ejects neurotoxic type of venom through its saliva. Future Prospects After viewing the present state of affairs, it can well be said that venom- based drugs have still a long way to go. Firstly, experiments are done with snake- toxins with new preparations as “anti- hypersensitive drugs and anti- coagulant”. This was done by adjusting the sequence of amino acids and further regulation of critical functional elements present in snake venoms. Secondly, vast amount of research is being carried on ‘toxin- like’ compounds present in venoms which function for customized or a definite type of disease only. Research works are being conducted by combining snake- toxins with natural toxins. Different functional elements are inserted by means of genetic technique (Menez, 2005, p 143-144). Conclusion Gradually with time, man has learnt to recognize the advantages of the ‘evils’ of poisonous animals. After realizing the advantages, man has used them to serve his own interest. Venoms extracted from different poisonous animals are processed and engineered to form life saving medicines for human beings. After from being used in medical science, venoms of poisonous animals are used for beauty and healthcare services and in perfumes, thus popularizing the concept of toxinology. Apart from these, toxinology has also found its implication in food processing as well. Venom extracted from snakes is primarily used for producing medicines. Cobra-venom finds large scale implication in homeopathy. The very composition of components in cobra-venom provides relief for heart and blood related problems. It also cures several other disorders as well. Another positive aspect generated by use of venom in medicines is that man has learnt to understand the value of these poisonous animals and have started preserving them. Being ignorant of their advantages, men have killed these animals mercilessly for centuries, but in present times numerous countries have taken initiatives to preserve these animals that have either become endangered species or are on the verge of becoming ones. References Frontiers in Biophysics, Vol. 6, Volume 6, (2005), India: Allied Publishers. Guidelines for the Production Control and Regulation of Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulins, (2008) WHO, retrieved on May 06, 2013, from: http://www.who.int/bloodproducts/snake_antivenoms/snakeantivenomguideline.pdf Menez, A., (2003). The Subtle Beast: Snakes, From Myth to Medicine. US: CRC Press. Shelton, M. H., (1996). Dr. Shelton's Hygienic Review. US: Health Research Books The Therapeutic Uses of Cobra Venom Neurotoxins, (n.d.) Nutra Pharma Corporation: Bringing Healthcare Solutions, retrieved on May 06, 2013 from: http://www.nutrapharma.com/presskit/paulreidinterview.pdf Venom. J (2011). Biochemical and toxinological characterization of Naja sumatrana (Equatorial spitting cobra) venom. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical diseases, 17 (4), pp n.d. Read More