Feb. 27, 2013 — The powerful venom of the
saw-scaled viper Echis carinatus contains both anticoagulants and coagulants
finds a study published in the launch edition of BioMed Central's open access
journal Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
(JVATiTD). These may be a source of potent drugs to treat human disease.
The saw-scaled viper family Echis, responsible for
most snake attacks on humans, are recognizable by the 'sizzling' noise they
make, produced by rubbing together special serrated scales, when threatened.
Echis venom causes coagulopathy, which can result in symptoms ranging from lack
of blood clotting, hemorrhage, renal failure and stroke.
Researchers from the Razi Vaccine and Serum
Research Institute, Iran
contained both coagulants and
anticoagulants. The clotting factors alone were toxic to mice.
The diametric effects of snake venom on blood are
of interest because of medical applications, and although snakes can be
considered as dangerous to humans -- they may yet save lives.
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