THE INDEPENDENT (Johannesburg, S Africa) 23 February 05 Snake venom may save lives
Sydney: A venom extract from one of the world's deadliest snakes offers a potential treatment for congestive heart failure (CHF), Australian researchers said on Wednesday.
University of Queensland chemist Paul Alewood said the venom from the taipan snake had already proved effective in preventing CHF in rabbits and there were hopes human trials
"The team has isolated a unique set of active molecules from taipan venom and research shows they are extremely effective at easing the heart's workload," Alewood said.
"Not only are these molecules very effective, tests have shown that they are also extremely stable, which is an attractive feature for new drugs."
CHF occurs when the heart is weakened and lacks the strength adequately to pump blood around the body. It claims about 3,000 lives every year in Australia and affects about 300 000 more people.
Alewood said the human body generated molecules similar to the snake venom that helped the heart operate but they lasted only hours, while the taipan molecules could last for days.
The taipan can inject 60mg of venom in a single bite, enough to kill several human adults.
Snake venom may save lives