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eCAM 2005 2(1):39-47; doi:10.1093/ecam/neh063
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© The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Review

Snake Venom: Any Clue for Antibiotics and CAM?

Deivy Clementino de Lima1, Paula Alvarez Abreu1, Cícero Carlos de Freitas1, Dilvani Oliveira Santos1, Rodrigo Oliveira Borges1, Tereza Cristina dos Santos2, Lúcio Mendes Cabral2, Carlos R. Rodrigues3,* and Helena Carla Castro1,*

1Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol), Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense CEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil, 2Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, RJ, Brazil, and 3Laboratório de Modelagem Molecular e QSAR (ModMolQSAR), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro CEP 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Lately several naturally occurring peptides presenting antimicrobial activity have been described in the literature. However, snake venoms, which are an enormous source of peptides, have not been fully explored for searching such molecules. The aim of this work is to review the basis of antimicrobial mechanisms revealing snake venom as a feasible source for searching an antibiotic prototype. Therefore, it includes (i) a description of the constituents of the snake venoms involved in their main biological effects during the envenomation process; (ii) examples of snake venom molecules of commercial use; (iii) mechanisms of action of known antibiotics; and (iv) how the microorganisms can be resistant to antibiotics. This review also shows that snake venoms are not totally unexplored sources for antibiotics and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Keywords: antibacterial – resistance – mechanism – peptide – reptiles

*For reprints and all correspondence: Dr Helena Carla Castro, Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol), 3o andar, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, IB-CEG, Universidade Federal Fluminense, CEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil. Tel: +55 21 2717.2043, Fax: +55 21 2719.5934. E-mail: hcastrorangel{at}yahoo.com.br or Dr Carlos R. Rodrigues, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Tel: +55-0XX21-2690-9192; E-mail: rangel{at}pharma.ufrj.br


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