Snake Venoms: A Physiological and Pharmacological Study

This Book includes the Physiological and Pharmacological study of snake venom. Venoms contain more than 20 different compounds, mostly proteins and polypeptides. Some of the proteins in snake venom have very specific effects on various biological functions including blood coagulation, regulation of blood pressure and transmission of the nervous or muscular impulse and have been developed for use as pharmacological or diagnostic tools or even useful drugs. A large proportion of the biologically active proteins and peptides present within snake venoms interact with components of the haemostatic system to promote or inhibit the normal sequence of events that lead to toxicity. The possible interaction of CPZ, PMZ, PCP and TMZ with venom proteins and enzymes have brought change in its structure, which leads in reduce in the toxicity. This Book is intended for a wide audience with the expectation that national health authorities, policy-makers, scholars, researchers and others committed to the advancement of public health in the World will make good use of it.