Snake venom is a complex mixture of proteins, enzymes, and other molecules that is used by snakes to capture and kill prey.
It is also a rich source of potential medicines.
The process of creating medicine from snake venom involves first collecting venom from snakes.
This is typically done by milking venom from captive snakes, although venom can also be harvested from wild snakes in some cases.
Once the venom has been collected, it is then purified and tested for its potential medicinal properties.
This can involve a variety of techniques, such as chromatography and mass spectrometry, to separate and identify the different components of the venom.
One of the most well-known and widely-used medicines derived from snake venom is antivenom, which is used to treat snake bites.
Antivenom is made by injecting small amounts of venom into animals, such as horses or sheep, to stimulate an immune response.
The antibodies produced by the animal in response to the venom are then harvested and used to create the antivenom.
Other medicines derived from snake venom include drugs that target blood clotting, blood pressure, and pain.
For example, researchers have been able to isolate a protein from the venom of the Brazilian pit viper that can be used as an anticoagulant, while a compound found in the venom of the Malayan pit viper has been shown to be effective in treating hypertension.
In summary, medicine is made from snake venom by collecting venom, purifying and testing it for potential medicinal properties.
One of the most widely-used medicine is antivenom which is used to treat snake bites, other medicines such as drugs that target blood clotting, blood pressure, and pain have also been developed from snake venom.
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