Pharmacological Characterisation of Pseudocerastes and Eristicophis Viper Venoms Reveal Anticancer (Melanoma) Properties and a Potentially Novel Mode of Fibrinogenolysis

Venoms are a rich source of potential lead compounds for drug discovery, and descriptive studies venom form the first phase biodiscovery process. In this study, we investigated pharmacological crude Pseudocerastes Eristicophis snake venoms in haematological disorders cancer treatment. We assessed their antithrombotic using fibrinogen thromboelastography, gels with without protease inhibitors, colourimetric fibrinolysis assays. These assays indicated that anticoagulant properties likely induced by hydrolysis phospholipids selective fibrinogenolysis. Furthermore, while most fibrinogenolysis occurred direct activity metalloproteases serine proteases, modest evidence fibrinogenolytic may also be mediated phospholipases an inhibitory venom-derived protease. found significantly reduced viability human melanoma (MM96L) cells more than 80%, it had almost no effect on healthy neonatal foreskin fibroblasts (NFF) as determined The bioactive these suggest they contain number toxins suitable downstream development candidates or anticancer agents.