Life saving uses of deadly snake venom



Source of photo: Besfon

Snakes are among the most feared creatures. Even the non poisonous ones are dread because they are unpredictable. They kill their prey by injecting deadly venom which kills in seconds. However, venom can be used to save lives. Here are 10 unusual uses of venom:

1.       PREVENTING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: Venom extracted from pit vipers is believed to possess anticoagulants. Pit viper venom is extremely lethal but not when controlled. Anticoagulants can help in improve blood flow. This in turn prevents the risk of High Blood Pressure.

2.        PAIN RELIEVER: A study at the National University of Singapore, Professor R. Manjunatha Kini working with his team found that snake venom particularly that of the King Cobra contains a unique protein called Ohanin. When Ohanin was injected into mice during tests, it was found that the protein was able to inhibit physical activities including pain. Though this has not yet been tried on humans, it is believed that this could be more effective than morphine.

3.       TREATING ARTHRITIS: Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation in one or more joints.
For centuries, Indians have used snake venom to treat arthritis. There was no scientific proof in the past that indeed the venom could reverse the effects of the disease. However, this has not stopped the medical experts from researching the benefits of snake venom.

4.       PRODUCTION OF ANTI-VENOM: One of the common uses of snake venom is for the production of anti-venom to treat snake bites. The venom is extracted from the snake using a process known as ‘milking’. During the process, the venom is collected from the snake’s fangs. A small portion of the venom is the injected into a snake, enough not to kill the snake. This allows the snake to produce antibodies. Its blood is then extracted then used to create the anti-venom used in treating snake bites. Horses are not the only animals used to create antibodies.

5.        TREATING BREAST CANCER: In the US alone, it estimated that at least 40 290 people would die from breast cancer in 2015. Nature however has provided many antidotes that can treat the early stages of breast cancer. New research has shown that the Copperhead Southern Viper contains venom that can help slow down the development of the cancer cells. The protein, contortrostatin contained in the venom is able to slow down tumour growth.

6.        TO STOP BLEADING: Scientists at Rice University created a gel that helps stop bleeding within seconds. A Nanofiber hydro gel infused with snake venom from the South American Pit Viper can be used to stop bleeding six seconds according to the results of the research. According to the Chemical Society journal ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering the gel may also be useful for surgeons.

7.       TO STOP OPIUM ADDICTION:  In China, snake venom has been used to treat opium addiction. Opium is a highly addictive narcotic drug acquired from the opium poppy .Cobra venom particularly has been used to treat opium addition. However, other drug addictions can also be controlled using venom from certain snake types. Toxins from snake venom have also been used to block the effects of nicotine found in cigarettes. This helped scientists discover that a specific protein picked up relays signals from nicotine. Scientists used this discovery to understand nicotine addiction.

8.        SNAKE WINE: This is an alcoholic beverage produced by infusing a whole snake into rice wine. Common in Vietnam and South east Asia, the beverage has been drunk for hundreds of years. The snake’s venom is dissolved over a long period then drunk in small shots. The wine is allowed to settle for several months. Though there is not much scientific evidence, it is believed that the wine will restore good health.

9.       HEART ATTACKS: In Canada scientists have been investigating the possibility of saving heart attack patients using the Southern Asian viper. The venom in the snake has properties that prevent the blood from clotting. Using this property, scientists believe that drugs that prevent blood clots could then be developed using the venom from the snake. In his research at the American Society of Haematology, Dr. Heyu Ni said a property known as Anfibatide was extracted from the snake venom. During a research that involved 16 scientists, they discovered that Anfibatides prevented blood cells from grouping together to form clots. It is this discovery that scientists believe could save millions from heart attacks as well as stroke.

10.    IMMUNE BOOSTERS: The notion that snake venom can be used to prevent disease has existed since 60 A.D. long before scientists discovered the actual properties of snake venom. Scientists are now looking at the possibility of producing immune boosters from snake venom. In a research at Stanford University, doctors studied how body cells reacted to various venoms. It was discovered that to a certain degree, the body developed a certain level of resistance when a non lethal dose of venom was injected.