Over the last few decades, research on snake venom toxins has provided not only new tools to decipher molecular details of various physiological processes, but also inspiration to design and develop a number of therapeutic agents. Isolated from the venom of Macrovipera lebetina obutusa (MLO), obtustatin represents the shortest known snake venom monomeric disintegrin specific inhibitor of α1β1 i...

We investigated the balance of free radicals in different tissues (liver, heart, brain and muscle) of rats in course of in vivo and in vitro processing by Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (MLO) and Montivipera raddei (MR) snake venoms. Chemiluminescence (ChL) levels were examined in tissue assays after incubation (at 37 ̊C for a period of 10 min) with venom for in vitro experiments and in tissue assa...

Integrins are essential protagonists of the complex multi-step process of angiogenesis that has now become a major target for the development of anticancer therapies. We recently reported and characterized that MVL-PLA2, a novel phospholipase A2 from Macrovipera lebetina venom, exhibited anti-integrin activity. In this study, we show that MVL-PLA2 also displays potent anti-angiogenic properties...

The antibacterial activities of eight snake crude venom (Macrovipera lebetina obtusa, Pseudocerastes persicus, Pseudocerastes urarachnoides, Echis carinatus sochureki, Gloydius halys caucasicus, Naja (naja) oxiana, and two species of true sea snakes Enhydrina schistose and Hydrophis cyanocinctus) were assessed against five important standard pathogenic bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, ...

The goal of this study was to identify new compounds from venoms able to modulate sperm physiology and more particularly sperm motility. For this purpose, we screened the effects of 16 snake venoms cleared of molecules higher than 15 kDa on sperm motility. Venoms rich in neurotoxins like those from Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus or Daboia russelii, were highly potent inhibitors of sperm moti...

ilam province in southwest iran possesses varied climatic and geographical conditions leading to rich biodiversity. an investigating of the status of snakes in the province was carried out from june 2005 to march 2010. a total of 103 specimens were collected and identified. six families, 20 genera, and 26 species are represented, including boidae: eryx (eryx) jaculus turcicus; colubridae: colub...

khabr national park and ruchun wildlife refuge are situated in the southeast of iran, kerman province. although snakes are an important group in the studied area, little is known regarding their diversity. the present study was carried out from march 2009 to late summer 2010. in this study, 74 specimens were collected (or observed) and identified, belonging to four families, 14 genera, and 17 s...