Abstract
Animal venoms are a mixture of bioactive compounds produced as weapons and used primarily to immobilize and kill preys. As a result of the high potency and specificity for various physiological targets, many toxins from animal venoms have emerged as possible drugs for the medication of diverse disorders, including cardiovascular diseases. Captopril, which inhibits the angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE), was the first successful venom-based drug and a notable example of rational drug design. Since captopril was developed, many studies have discovered novel bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs) with actions on the cardiovascular system. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) have also been found in animal venoms and used as template to design new drugs with applications in cardiovascular diseases. Among the anti-arrhythmic peptides, GsMTx-4 was discovered to be a toxin that selectively inhibits the stretch-activated cation channels (SACs), which are involved in atrial fibrillation. The present review describes the main components isolated from animal venoms that act on the cardiovascular system and presents a brief summary of venomous animals and their venom apparatuses.
Keywords: Anti-arrhythmic, bradykinin-potentiating peptides, captopril, cardiovascular, hypotensive, natriuretic peptides, scorpion, snake, spider, toxin, venom.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Cardiovascular-Active Venom Toxins: An Overview
Volume: 23 Issue: 6
Author(s): Carolina Campolina Rebello Horta, Maria Chatzaki, Bruno Almeida Rezende, Bárbara de Freitas Magalhães, Clara Guerra Duarte, Liza Figueiredo Felicori, Bárbara Bruna Ribeiro Oliveira-Mendes, Anderson Oliveira do Carmo, Carlos Chávez-Olórtegui and Evanguedes Kalapothakis
Affiliation:
Keywords: Anti-arrhythmic, bradykinin-potentiating peptides, captopril, cardiovascular, hypotensive, natriuretic peptides, scorpion, snake, spider, toxin, venom.
Abstract: Animal venoms are a mixture of bioactive compounds produced as weapons and used primarily to immobilize and kill preys. As a result of the high potency and specificity for various physiological targets, many toxins from animal venoms have emerged as possible drugs for the medication of diverse disorders, including cardiovascular diseases. Captopril, which inhibits the angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE), was the first successful venom-based drug and a notable example of rational drug design. Since captopril was developed, many studies have discovered novel bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs) with actions on the cardiovascular system. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) have also been found in animal venoms and used as template to design new drugs with applications in cardiovascular diseases. Among the anti-arrhythmic peptides, GsMTx-4 was discovered to be a toxin that selectively inhibits the stretch-activated cation channels (SACs), which are involved in atrial fibrillation. The present review describes the main components isolated from animal venoms that act on the cardiovascular system and presents a brief summary of venomous animals and their venom apparatuses.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Rebello Horta Campolina Carolina, Chatzaki Maria, Rezende Almeida Bruno, Magalhães de Freitas Bárbara, Duarte Guerra Clara, Felicori Figueiredo Liza, Ribeiro Oliveira-Mendes Bruna Bárbara, do Carmo Oliveira Anderson, Chávez-Olórtegui Carlos and Kalapothakis Evanguedes, Cardiovascular-Active Venom Toxins: An Overview, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2016; 23(6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867323666160126142837
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867323666160126142837 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |

- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
- Forthcoming Thematic Issues
Related Articles
-
Stem Cells as In Vitro Models of Disease
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Editorial (Thematic Issue: Modifying Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Current Opinion and Future Trends)
Current Pharmaceutical Design C-reactive Protein, Infection, and Outcome After Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Registry and Systematic Review
Current Neurovascular Research Metabolism and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Active Ingredients in <i>Erigeron breviscapus</i>
Current Drug Metabolism Cell Cycle Dependent Regulation of Intracellular Calcium Concentration in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: A Potential Target for Drug Therapy
Current Drug Targets - Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders Insight View on Possible Role of Fluoroquinolones in Cancer Therapy
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Nutritional Quality of Lettuce
Current Nutrition & Food Science An Association between MicroRNA-21 Expression and Vitamin D Deficiency in Coronary Artery Disease
MicroRNA Catecholamines, Sympathetic Innervation and Immunity: Role in Experimental and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Attenuation of Diabetes-induced Cardiac and Subcellular Defects by Sulphur-containing Amino Acids
Current Medicinal Chemistry Preventing and Treating Anthracycline-Related Cardiotoxicity in Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Natriuretic Peptide Testing in Primary Care
Current Cardiology Reviews Screening of Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Activities and Chemical Contents of Edible Mushrooms Wildly Grown in the Black Sea Region of Turkey
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Drug Eluting Coronary Artery Stents
Current Drug Delivery S100A1: Structure, Function, and Therapeutic Potential
Current Chemical Biology Lipids as Key Players in Alzheimer Disease - Alterations in Metabolism and Genetics
Current Alzheimer Research Material-Based Engineering Strategies for Cardiac Regeneration
Current Pharmaceutical Design Advances in Systemic Therapy for Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Malignancies
Current Clinical Pharmacology Editorial: Can Statins Mitigate the Adverse Cardiovascular Effects of Smoking?
Current Vascular Pharmacology Berberine as a Potential Multi-Target Agent for Metabolic Diseases: A Review of Investigations for Berberine
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets