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Updated: May 19, 2026
10:25
Extraction of Venom and Venom Gland Microdissections from Spiders for Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses
Published on: November 3, 2014
Biochemistry of envenomation
Prameet Kaur1, Vibha Ghariwala, Kun Song Yeo
1Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Advances in Clinical Chemistry
|August 9, 2012
Summary
Venoms and toxins cause severe health issues, but their biochemical actions are poorly understood. This review explores venom toxins and their therapeutic potential for better envenomation treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Venoms and toxins are significant causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide.
- Biochemical pathways of venoms remain largely unexplored, especially in vulnerable regions.
- Lack of medical infrastructure exacerbates envenomation severity in impoverished areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the biochemical mechanisms of venom and toxin action.
- To characterize major toxin classes including neurotoxins, cardiotoxins, hemotoxins, and ion-channel toxins.
- To explore the biochemistry of venom therapy and its implications for conventional medicine.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of biochemical pathways and mechanisms of action of various toxins.
- Analysis of existing research on neurotoxins, cardiotoxins, hemotoxins, and ion-channel toxins.
- Examination of traditional and folk medicine uses of venoms for therapeutic purposes.
Main Results:
- Detailed characterization of downstream envenomation mechanisms.
- Identification of key toxins affecting neurological, cardiovascular, and hematological systems.
- Exploration of the biochemical basis for venom's therapeutic applications.
Conclusions:
- Understanding venom biochemistry is crucial for effective envenomation management and treatment.
- Venom components show potential for novel therapeutic applications in conventional medicine.
- Further research into venom biochemistry can bridge gaps in treating envenomation, particularly in resource-limited settings.
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