There is a growing awareness on the need to significantly reduce the number of mice used in antivenom assessment, as well as the pain and distress involved in these tests, along the philosophy of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) proposed by Russell and Burch ( 7). A significant amount of work has been devoted by many groups to the search of in vitro alternatives to these animal tests, and to the refinement of these assays. Owing to the high variability of snake venom composition and mechanisms of action, no simple generalizations can be made regarding the implementation of these alternative tests. However, there are examples of in vitro assays which show a good correlation with the in vivo tests, and further work is urgently needed in this field. The present review presents the state of the art in the development of in vitro tests for antivenom preclinical efficacy assessment. The review focuses mostly on studies in which the correlation between in vitro and in vivo tests was evaluated. The Challenge of Finding Suitable In Vitro Tests for Assessing Antivenom Efficacy Regulatory approval of the therapeutic agent to be used in the market and in post-marketing supervision, as well as pharmacovigilance. Mouriri pusa (Melastomataceae), Byrsonima crassa (Malpighiaceae), and Davilla elliptica (Dilleniaceae) Seed extract of Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) used in Nigerian communities offer significant protection to cardiac muscle tissue and blood vessels, and even protects against the lethality produced by venoms from Naja kaouthia, Naja nivea, and Calloselasma rhodostoma. This protection can be explained from the presence of a Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor.

Aqueous extracts from the stem bark of Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae) inhibited the protease, hyaluronidase, hemorrhagic, fibrinogenolytic, hemolytic, procoagulant, edema, ATPase, and alkaline phosphatase activities produced by D. russelli venom Review discussing Brazilian plant species displaying neutralizing properties against snake envenomation from an ethnopharmacological perspective Inhibition of protease, hyalunoridase, fibrinogenolytic, procoagulant, anti-edematogenic, anti-ATPase, and alkaline phosphataseSyn-ake is a patented anti-aging ingredient developed by the Swedish company, Pentapharm Ltd, designed to mimic the action of snake venom. It is designed to work on relaxing the muscles in the face to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. There are various medicinal plants, which have been used in folk and traditional medicines against snakebites especially among the Fulani herdsmen of Northern Nigeria. But till date no such drugs are available in the market, which possess anti snake venom activity. The researchers concluded: “Finally, these findings would be of importance in the area of drug development with a view to actualizing the substitution or enhancing the effect of conventional snakebite therapeutic options.” Products containing Syn-ake usually have low concentrations of the peptide, ranging from 1-4%. This low concentration reduces the potential for the ingredient to enter into the bloodstream and causes generalized muscle weakness.

A list of 34 plant species belonging to the Zingiberaceae family traditionally used in Northeast India, where one species presented antivenom activity and five other species have been scientifically validated to be anti-inflammatory plant species belonging to at least 30 families. Neutralization activity of Costa Rican plants towards B. asper venom and toxins Botox’s requires frequent injections to maintain results. Snake venom, on the other hand, is painless and relatively hassle-free, making it an easy step to add into your skin care regimen. Mangifera indica has been used against snakebite by traditional healers. However, there is paucity of scientific data in support. In this study, the scientists evaluated the anti-venom potential of aqueous extract of stem bark of M. indica against D. russellii venom-induced pharmacological effects such as life myotoxicity, edema, LD50 etc. The extract inhibited the phospholipase, protease, hyaluronidase, 5’nucleotidase, ATPase and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities with varying IC50 values. It significantly inhibited both metalloproteases and serine proteases activities. A solution to this situation is the identification and isolation of venom components having the highest toxicity in a venom, by assessing the ‘toxicity score’ of venom fractions ( 24). Once these toxins are identified, ELISAs can be developed for the quantification of antibodies against them. This increases the likelihood of correlation between immunoassays and the in vivo neutralization of lethality. This concept has been proven in the case of antivenom against Naja naja siamensis, since a higher correlation was observed when immunoassays were carried out using a purified α-neurotoxin, as compared to crude venom ( 17). Similarly, a higher correlation was described for the Brazilian bothropic antivenom when using a hemorrhagic fraction of the venom of B. jararaca as compared to crude venom, but not when using a phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2)-rich fraction ( 21, 25). The growing body of information of snake venom proteomes, together with the identification of key toxins, provides valuable evidence for the setting of these more directed ELISAs.Infusions and crushed leaves from Marsypianthes chamaedrys (Lamiaceae) showed a similar activity produced by antivenom serum against clotting and inflammatory effects of the Bothrops atrox venom Talking about ENTOD's snake venom-based serum, he says venom peptides help to fight against fine lines, wrinkles and crow's feet. Snake venom has a lifting effect on the skin, giving it a tightened, lifted, and smoother appearance, he adds. The application of -Omics technologies has had a high impact in the study of snake venoms, providing novel and relevant clues for understanding their evolution and composition in their ecological and medical contexts ( 85). In particular, the field of proteomics as applied to venoms, i.e. ‘venomics’ ( 86), has shed light on the complexity of these toxic secretions ( 87, 88). An application of the study of venom proteomes to the field of antivenoms is ‘antivenomics’, a translational venomics applied to the fine characterization of the ability of antivenoms to recognize different components in venoms.

The roots are sold in Hausa markets in Northern Nigeria and are used in the treatment of venereal diseases, the patient feeding for five or six days on a pap made by boiling the root with guinea-corn meal and native natron.”Until now, snakebite poisoning remains a public health hazard in tropical countries. Viper snakes are among the most common types of venomous snakes, which are responsible for many envenoming and deaths in most tropical areas. Hypericum brasiliense (Guttiferae) reduces the lethality produced by Bothrops jararaca by inhibiting the edematous and proteolytic activities of the venom.